USA > Minnesota > Todd County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 28
USA > Minnesota > Morrison County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 28
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Of the fourteen children born to Julian Suszczynski and wife one died in infancy and one died when twenty-six years of age. Two are priests, four are teachers, one is a musician and composer, one is a physician and major in the German army, another fills practically the same position, and still another is an architect. Anna is a musician and composer, and lives in Binghamton, New York. Mary is a teacher, Charles is a priest, Roman is a physician and major in the German army. Irene, Frances and Thecla are teachers. Lucian is an architect. Joseph is in the army. Johanna is the wife of C. Lewandowski and Stanislaus is a surgeon in the army.
Father Sigismond Suszczynski received his early education in the com- mon schools of his native land, and later attended high school and college in Posen, Poland. In 1887 he went to Rome, where he attended the College of Rome and the University of St. Appolinaris, finishing his education in October, 1890.
After advancing his educational training. Father Suszczynski started for the United States, landing at New York, from Antwerp, Belgium. After locating in Erie, Pennsylvania, he continued his studies there and also in the Seminary of Bonaventure, Allegany, New York, where he studied the English language for one year. On January 1, 1892, he was ordained at Erie, Pennsylvania, to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Tobias Mullen. After remaining at Erie for two years he came to St. Cloud, Minnesota, in 1895, and was first stationed at Duelm, Benton county, where he remained for one year. In 1895 he was moved to Swan River, where he built the St. Stanislaus church, which was erected at a cost of more than twenty thousand dollars. While there he also built a parochial school which housed one hundred and eighty children, but this building was later destroyed by fire.
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After remaining at the St. Stanislaus church for six years, Father Suszczynski became pastor of St. Anna, where he built the church of the Blessed Virgin and where he remained about three years. This church is a magnificent edifice, costing twenty-two thousand dollars. The estimated cost of the building contract was forty thousand dollars. From St. Anna Father Suszcznski went to Alberta, Benton county, Minnesota, where he was pastor for one and one-half years of St. Casimer. After closing his pastorate at the latter church he was sent to take charge of the church of the Blessed Virgin, at Opole, Stearns county, this state, where he remained five years.
In 1911 Father Suszcznski came to North Prairie as pastor of the Holy Cross church, and is now in charge of this parish. He has done a noble work in behalf of the Christian religion in the various communities he has served, and everywhere he has left with the good wishes of his parishioners and regrets that he could not serve them longer.
SILAS T. BENNETT.
Among those persons who have, by virtue of their own individual qualities, carned their way to a position of confidence and respect in the estimation of their fellow citizens, the subject of this sketch may well be classed. Silas T. Bennett started out in life in a very humble way and has through his own perseverance and honorable methods won for himself the pleasing degree of material success which is his, and has also so ordered his life as to win the approval of his fellow-men and to be entrusted with the discharge of certain civic duties.
Silas T. Bennett, a resident of Parker township, Morrison county, Min- nesota, was born in New York state, March 30, 1859, a son of John and Maria (Stephenson) Bennett. There were originally thirteen children in the family, three of whom have passed away. The parents are both deceased. Mr. Bennett's mother was born in Canada and his father was a native of the Emerald Isle, who emigrated to this country when quite a young man. After living in the East for a few years, he came westward and located in Michi- gan at the time when the immediate subject of this sketch was a small boy.
Silas T. Bennett started out in life for himself when only eleven years of age and for ten years worked as a farm hand on farms near his home in Michigan. After his father's death he returned to his home and for the
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following eight years rented the home place from his inother. After her death he left Michigan and located in Wright county, Iowa, where he farmed until 1896, when he became a citizen of Morrison county, Minne- sota. Upon coming here, Mr. Bennett purchased eighty acres of unim- proved land in section 22, of Parker township, for which he paid the sum of three dollars per acre. He first built a log house in which he lived for a time while he busied himself with clearing up a portion of his ground, and later replaced that dwelling with a frame house. He had the misfortune to have that house destroyed by fire, after which he put up a small frame struc- ture, in which he has since lived. He has sixty acres under cultivation and is uniformly successful with his crops. As a side issue, he raises a few head of cattle each year for the market, having at the present time thirteen head and five head of horses. A few years ago Mr. Bennett gave con- siderable attention to raising sheep, but of later years has displaced them with cattle, which he finds less troublesome and more productive.
Mr. Bennett is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and lias served efficiently two terms as road supervisor of Parker township. He has always led a quiet, well-regulated and honest life, which has gained for him the respect of a pleasing number of friends and in view of his worthy citizenship, he is justly entitled to specific mention in a history of the county favored with his residence.
FRANK B. LOGAN.
The fact is well authenticated that success is the result of well-applied energy, unfailing determination and perseverance. In fact, success is never known to smile upon the idler or dreamer and never courts the loafer. Only those who have diligently sought her favor are crowned with her blessing. Frank B. Logan, the proprietor of the only jewelry store in Royalton and one of the board of managers of the Minnesota State Fair Association, has risen to his present prominent position in the business life of Royalton and in the public life of the state of Minnesota by devoting himself carefully and consistently to each step in the ladder of success. From year to year he has mounted higher and higher until now he is one of the best-known citizens of Morrison county. Beginning about nine years ago as the decorator of the Morrison county exhibit at the Minnesota state fair, he has risen year by year and step by step to his present honorable position, as a member of
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the board of managers and superintendent of the agricultural department at the state fair.
Frank B. Logan was born on September 1, 1871, at Greenville, Penn- sylvania. the son of John D. and Mary J. (Walker) Logan. John D. Logan was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on August 2, 1838, and in 1855, when seventeen years old, came to Minnesota, settling at Northfield, where he took a claim at the edge of the present city of Northfield. He sold out afterward, and in 1861 enlisted in Company G, First Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, as a private. He was discharged for dis- ability in 1864, having suffered a sunstroke near Falmouth, Virginia. He fought in the battles of Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Antie- tam, Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Seven Days, and, in fact, all the battles of the Army of the Potomac, up to the time of his discharge.
After the war, John D. Logan returned to Greenville, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged as a stationary engineer until he took up house build- ing under contract. On August 2, 1864, he was married, and thereafter, until 1872, lived in Greenville, operating a planing-mill at Orangeville, Ohio, after leaving Greenville. In 1874 he sold out at Orangeville, Ohio, and removed to West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, where he lived for five years and operated a saw-mill. When the mill burned, he removed to Royalton, Minnesota, arriving here on June 12, 1879. Here he built a saw and planing- mill, which he operated until it was destroyed by fire in 1883. There was no insurance. In the meantime, in 1879, he had laid out the original town- site of Royalton, covering about twenty acres of land which he owned. The first house was built in 1879-it was a frame house. A store was also built in the same year on the site of the present Merchants hotel.
In 1886 Mr. Logan began the operation of a mill at Lincoln, Morrison county, which he continued for five years in partnership with his son, Harry Milton Logan. In November, 1891, the mill at Lincoln burned. After selling his personal property, Mr. Logan retired from active business, and, being taken ill about this time, passed through a long period of sickness. lle died in August, 1907, at the age of sixty-nine years. A Republican in politics, he was the first president of the village council and chairman of the first school board of this district for several years. He was also chairman of the board of supervisors of Bellevue township. John D. Logan was a member of the Presbyterian church. He was a member of the Masonic lodge and the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife, who, before her marriage, was Mary J. Walker, was born at Mercer, Pennsylvania, on June 30, 1841, and lived at Mercer until her marriage. She died in 1912. Mr.
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and Mrs. Logan had five children, three of whom grew to manhood, as follow : Harry Milton; Frank B., the subject of this sketch, and Charles W.
Frank B. Logan was the third child born to his parents. He was edu- eated in the district schools of Royalton and, after completing his education, worked with his father in the lumber business until twenty years old, when he entered the Bradley Polytechnic School, at Peoria, Illinois learning the watchmaker's trade. He was graduated from the Bradley Polytechnic School in 1894, and in the fall of that year opened a small jewelry store at Royalton in one of the Wilson buildings on Center street, where he remained about one year. when the store burned. It was a very disastrous blow to Mr. Logan, but by renewed effort and hard work he was soon able to open another jewelry store in the building now owned by H. M. Logan, his brother. He was located here for nine years, until 1904, when he removed to the site he now occupies, greatly increasing his stock. He has the only jewelry store in Royalton.
Frank B. Logan was married to Henrietta Dragoo, who was born at Morris, Minnesota, in 1874, and when a young woman came to Royalton with her parents. She died in 1911, after having given birth to six children, all of whom are living.
In 1906 Frank B. Logan was sent to the state fair to decorate the Mor- rison county exhibit. It was his initial experience in the work of the state fair. The next year he took charge of the exhibit of Morrison county and took second prize on the exhibit. The succeeding three years, 1908-9-10, he had charge of the exhibit and won first prize each year for Morrison county. In 1907 he organized the Minnesota County Exhibitors' Associa- tion, Inecrporated, and was elected its first president. He held this position as long as he was an exhibitor, until 1910. In 1911 he was appointed assist- ant superintendent of the agricultural department of the state fair and held the same office in 1912. In 1913 he was appointed superintendent of the agricultural department and held this position during 1914. In January, 1915, at the annual meeting of the State Agricultural Society, he was elected a member of the board of managers of the Minnesota State Fair Association for a term of three years. During the present year he not only is supervisor of the horticultural department but retains his position as superintendent of the agricultural department.
Mr. Logan is a Republican. In 1904 he was elected clerk of Bellevue township, and is still holding this position. He was president of the board of education of independent district No. 40 for three years, but declined to run again.
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OLE SJODIN.
One of the progressive wide-awake citizens of Elmdale township, Mor- rison county, Minnesota, is the man whose name forms the caption of this article. Mr. Sjodin is progressive, possessed of unusual foresight and a determination to succeed which will brook no obstacles. The manner in which he is coming into his own might well serve as an object lesson to young men who have their own way to make in life, and being a man of kindly disposition he has made many friends who gladly accord him the recognition he so justly deserves.
Ole Sjodin was born in the northern part of Sweden on April 30, 1869, being a son of Peter O. and Kate Sjodin, both natives of that country. Peter O. was a farmer and all of his three children were reared under that environment. All emigrated to the United States, leaving the parents at home, and father and mother came across the water a few weeks later to be with their children. Ole, the immediate subject of this sketch, did not take to farm work and for a few years was proprietor of a grocery store in his native land, later being in the contract lumber business. In 1903 he emigrated to the United States, with his wife and one boy. He landed at the port of Boston and from there journeyed on to Little Falls, this state. He hired a livery rig to carry him to Upsala and after paying for same, he had just seventy-five cents between him and starvation. For a few weeks he worked on various farms in the vicinity of Upsala and began looking about for a place to locate. He found a place just over the line in Stearns county which he made arrangements to purchase, containing forty acres. That winter he went to the woods to work and for several succeeding winters he labored in the woods, cutting timber by contract. He was not working in any haphazard manner, but was carefully figuring ahead and in 1910 he was able to purchase one hundred acres of land in Elmdale town- ship, Morrison county, where he has since made his home. Mr. Sjodin is devoting his best energies to the breeding and raising of live stock, special- izing in Poland China hogs. He has about sixty head at present in addi- tion to some milk cows and the other necessary live stock. All his farin is under hog-wire fence and is in good repair, the appearance of the whole place attesting the capability of the owner. Nearly all the land is under cultivation and this fact together with the substantial appearance of the buildings, mark it as one of the best farms of the community.
Mr. Sjodin is a devout member of the Lutheran church and he gives his political support to the Republican party. He is also a member of the
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Elmdale Shippers' Association and is interested in many other plans for the advancement of community interests. In attaining the degree of success which is his, Mr. Sjodin has overcome some obstacles which might well have daunted him, but each fresh opposition seemed to act merely as an incentive to press still harder toward his goal. He is the happy possessor of such a combination of characteristics as is bound to win not only material success, but the high regard of his fellow citizens as well.
Mr. Sjodin was married in his native land to Anna Batha Perion, their marriage being solemnized on July 6, 1896. To their union have come six children: Willie, Edwin, Verner, Monfred, Lilly and Elsa, the five young- est being born in this country.
ELWIN H. WISE.
Among the prosperous farmers and stockmen of Parker township, Mor- rison county, Minnesota, is Elwin H. Wise, who owns a comfortable honte five and one-half miles from Randall and who has sixty acres under culti- vation in Parker township.
Elwin H. Wise is a native of Faribault county, Minnesota, born on July II. 1879. He is the son of Elbert and Mary (Andross) Wise, the former of whom was born in 1858 in Wisconsin. They had three children, Elwin H., the subject of this sketch; Monty, of Martin county, Minnesota; and Floyde, of Parker township.
Reared on a farm, Elwin H. Wise was educated in the district schools of Faribault county. When twenty-one years old he rented land in Fari- bault county for two years and later immigrated to Martin county, Minne- sota, and rented land for ten years. In 1913 he removed to Morrison county and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in section 16, of Parker township. Thirty acres of the farm had already been cultivated and some four thousand dollars had been invested in various kinds of improvements. He now owns two hundred acres of land in Parker town- ship. Mr. Wise keeps a very high grade of live stock, especially Shorthorn cattle. At the present time he has eighteen acres of corn and four acres in alfalfa, as well as fifteen acres in oats.
In 1902 Elwin H. Wise was married to Zorah Hodgman, who was born in 1881 at Pleasant Prairie, Martin county, Minnesota, and who is a daughter of Amerson and Henrietta (Hill) Hodgman, the former of whom
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was born in Onondaga county, New York, on November 4, 1829, of German and French lineage. He was a farmer by occupation and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Martin county, Minnesota, in 1864. He remained in Martin county until his death on September 27, 1913. Amerson Hodgman was a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting in Company H. First Minnesota Heavy Artillery in 1865. After the close of the war he returned to his home and farmed until his death. Amerson Hodgman had been mar- ried previous to his marriage to Henrietta Hill. By his first marriage there were born eight children and by the second marriage there were born three children, all daughters. Mrs. Wise was the youngest child born to the last marriage. Her mother died in 1883 at the age of about thirty-five years. Mrs. Wise received a good common-school education and was graduated from the high school at Granada, Minnesota. She has borne her husband three children, Thelma, Evon and Theo, all of whom are at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Elwin H. Wise and family are members of the Presby- terian church. Mr. Wise is independent in politics and has held various offices of trust and responsibility in Morrison county.
JOHN P. MUELLER.
John P. Mueller, a successful merchant of Buckman township, Morrison county, Minnesota, was born on September 29, 1883, in Schilling, Germany, and is a son of Adam and Elizabeth ( Midiels) Mueller, both of whom were born, reared and married in Germany. They came to the United States in 1884, and after landing at New York City they came directly to Buckman township, Morrison county, Minnesota. In his native land Adam Mueller followed the occupation of a wagonmaker, but after arriving in Minnesota he purchased forty acres of land, where he still lives. Later, however, he bought one hundred and twenty acres, but has since sold this last farm. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mrs. Elizabeth ( Midiels) Mucler died in 1894, at the age of thirty-eight years, leaving her husband and eleven children, John being the fourth child in order of birth.
John P. Mueller was less than a year old when brought to the United States by his parents, who settled in Buckman township. He received his education in the public schools of that township, and lived with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-two years, assisting with the work of the
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farm as soon as old enough. In 1905 he began doing mason work in Buck- man township, a trade which he followed for four years. At the age of twenty-six he purchased, in partnership with his brother, a general store in Buckman, which they still operate.
In 1912 John P. Mueller built a house and barn on the same lot where his brother lives, and the same year was married to Mary Denzen, a native of Buckman township, born on the 24th of May, 1887, the daughter of William and Emma ( Baltis) Denzen, the former of whom was a native of Germany, and the latter was born in Wisconsin. Some time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Denzen located in Buekman. John P. Mueller and wife are the parents of two children, one of whom died in infancy, while the other, Roman, is still living.
Mr. and Mrs. Mueller are active members of the St. Michart's church. Mr. Mueller votes the Democratic ticket in local state and national elections.
NELS PERSON.
Nels Person, a successful farmer of Elmdale township, Morrison county, Minnesota, is a native of St. Paul, Minnesota, born on September 16, 1883, the son of Ole and Engred (Johnson) Person. The father was born in Sweden and came to America when a young man, settling a little later in St. Paul, where he was married. After two years, having worked in various odd jobs, he was employed in the gas plant. Altogether Ole Person lived in St. Paul for about eight years. He then moved to Elmdale township and bought eighty acres of land, to which he subsequently added forty acres. He is still engaged in farming and stock raising. His wife, who is a native of Sweden, came to the United States alone and settled in St. Paul, where she met her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Ole Person have had six children, of whom two, Mary and an infant, are deceased. The living children are: Nels: Thea, who married Alex Anderson; Alma, who mar- ried John Anderson : and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Ole Person are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Person is a Republican, and during the past six- teen years or more has been treasurer of the local school board.
Nels Person completed his education in the public school of Upsala, and after leaving school worked at home on the farm until reaching his majority, when he bought forty acres of land at section 20. in Elmdale township. The land had never been plowed. A few years later Mr. Person
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added forty acres of land in the same section adjoining his original tract. Still later he purchased another forty acres in section 29, adjoining the eighty. A major part of the farm is now under cultivation. Mr. Person is engaged in farming and stock raising.
In the spring of 1915 Mr. Person, in partnership with his brother-in- law, Alex Anderson, built a new frame structure in Upsala, where the Anderson implement and harness business is housed. The building is fifty by fifty feet.
Nels Person is identified with the Republican party. With his parents and all of the family he is a member of the Lutheran church.
HANS NELSON.
There are few farmers living in Morrison comity, Minnesota, who have made a larger success of agriculture than Hans Nelson, a prosperous farmer of Rosing township. When Mr. Nelson came to Morrison county, Minnesota, he had only about two hundred dollars in money and with this money he purchased a yoke of oxen, which he used on the farm the first year. llis first team of horses was a pair of bronchos, which he purchased from a liveryman in Motley. The price was one hundred and sixty dollars and of this he paid thirty-five dollars cash, money he had made in the wheat fields of the Dakotas. For the remainder of the purchase price he traded rails and wood. . This business transaction is in striking contrast with his present prosperity, since he now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, one hundred and sixty acres of which is in cultivation and upon which he has invested eight thousand dollars in improvements.
Hans Nelson is a native of Sweden, born on February 1, 1851. He is the son of Nels and Katherine ( Person) Nelson. Mr. Nelson's father was born about 1823, in Sweden, and died in his native land in 1899. His mother was born in 1829, in Sweden, and died in 1863. They had five children, of whom two, Benta and Christian, died in their native land. The three remaining children, Hans, the subject of this sketch; Nels Winberg and Martin, reside in America. Nels Winberg Nelson is a shoemaker in Des Moines, lowa. Martin is a farmer in Martin county, Minnesota.
Mr. Nelson was thirty-five years old when he left Sweden on July 27, 1886, for America. Hle settled first in Canada and worked in the mines there for three years. Later he worked in the Michigan mines for a time,
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and in 1894 came to Morrison county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 32, of Rosing township. At the time he put up a small log cabin and lived in this cabin for ten years. He then purchased eighty acres more land and has made additional purchases until he now owns four hundred and eighty acres. In the meantime he has erected a com- fortable house and a commodious barn. He makes a specialty of raising Chester White hogs and Jersey cows. Mr. Nelson has been a hard work- ing man and his success in agriculture is due principally to his own unaided efforts.
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