USA > Minnesota > Todd County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 32
USA > Minnesota > Morrison County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 32
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Mr. and Mrs. Marlin have an interesting family of three children, Lois B., the eldest, born on January 14, 1900; John E., May 6. 1905, and Harry A., May 24, 1908. Both Mr. Marlin and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he gives liberal support. In politics,
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Mr. Marlin endorses the principles of the Republican party. He served his party one term as county commissioner, was at one time city clerk of Staples and is now justice of the peace, and in the discharge of the duties of these various offices, his actions have met with the hearty approval of his fellow citizens. Mr. Marlin is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Arcanum. By his honorable and upright course, Mr. Marlin has won the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens and he and his wife move in the best social circles. genuinely liked by a large number of friends.
GEORGE DUBBELS.
Among the farmers of Belle Prairie township, Morrison county, Minne- sota, none are more esteemed than George Dubbels, of Little Falls, Minne- sota, who at the age of twenty-five years has established himself in the sincere regard of his fellow citizens.
George Dubbels was born on January 7, 1890, and is the son of Claus and Elizabeth ( Loose) Dubbels, to whom ten children were born, all of whom are living. This family consisted of five sons and five daughters. Olmstead county, Minnesota, was the birthplace of George Dubbels and it was here that his father settled, when a young man of twenty-one years, upon his arrival in America, from Germany. Claus Dubbels was born on December 9, 1854, in Germany, and after his emigration to America, pursued the vocation of agriculture on a farm of two hundred and ten acres, on which place he is now living. In 1910 he purchased one hundred and seventy-two acres of land, which he sold to his son, Paul, at twenty-one dollars per acre. The farm that was sold to the son, Paul, is located in Belle Prairie township, Morrison county, Minnesota.
The mother of this sturdy family of ten was born on February 11. 1866, in Germany, and came to America when a girl of sixteen years. George Dubbels was reared on the home farm and received his education in the district schools of Olinstead county, Minnesota. He remained at home until 1910, at which time he had reached the age of twenty years. Afterward he lived with his brother, working out and renting land for three years, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Belle Prairie township, at twenty-eight dollars per acre, and settled down to farming his own place.
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On November 20, 1913, George Dubbels was married to Ida Gablenz, who is the daughter of Frank Gablenz, and was born on May 28, 1892, at Hector, Minnesota. Mr. Dubbels now has a well-improved farm which is well adapted for raising of the Holstein cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs in which he takes great pride.
George Dubbels is an enthusiastic Democrat and lends his best energies to the propaganda of the party principles. He bids fair to become one of the leading citizens of his community.
STEPHEN C. VASALY.
The son of a well-known pioneer and business man of Little Falls, Minnesota, Stephen C. Vasaly has become well known in the commercial circles of this city. He is at the present time secretary and treasurer of the Vasaly Realty Company, part owner of the Herald Printing Company and a lawyer by profession.
On his mother's side, Mr. Vasaly is descended from a distinguished Italian family, his uncle having been, for many years, a senator of the Italian kingdom. Mr. Vasaly is a native of Italy, born in the province of Piedmont on July 8, 1860. He is the son of Louis and Frances ( Riberi ) Vasaly, the former of whom was born in the northern part of Italy in 1822, and who, after graduating from college, studied pharmacy. He also served in the Sardinian army for a number of years and took part in the Crimean War. In 1858 he was married to Frances Riberi, the daughter of a well- known Italian official. Mrs. Louis Vasaly was born in Italy and to her and her husband were born ten children, three of whom died in infancy. The seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Vasaly who grew to maturity are as follow : Stephen C., Petronilla R., Charles E., member of the state board of control; Spirit J., optometrist ; Peter J., manager Herald Printing Company ; Rose F., and Louis W., attorney.
In 1863 Louis Vasaly came to America, afterward joining the Union army as a private. In New York he was connected with the first Italian newspaper published in this country. Being a druggist by profession, he was soon appointed hospital steward after joining the Union army and retained that position until the close of the war. He was then appointed post trader at F't. Ripley, Minnesota, and remained there for four years. In 1868 he returned to his native land and brought back with him his family. They
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settled first at Ft. Ripley, but in 1870 moved to Little Falls, where he opened a drug store, which he operated for many years. At the same time, he also operated a general mercantile store and a hotel. He became interested in lumber and real estate and acquired considerable improved property in Little Falls and some land in the country. One of the pioneers of Morrison county, he contributed largely to the development of this section of the state. He was independent in politics and a member of the Catholic church. For many years he was a member of the Little Falls school board.
Stephen C. Vasaly, who was educated in the public schools of Little Falls, attended a little old-fashioned red school house and afterward took a commercial course at St. John's University at Collegeville, Stearns county, Minnesota, graduating from the institution in 1878. Afterwards, until twenty-five years old, he assisted his father in the business at Little Falls and then went to Janesville, Wisconsin, and attended a school of telegraphy and stenography. After graduating from this school Mr. Vasaly took up teleg- raphy and stenography in a railroad office in Chicago, but followed this only one year, when he came to Little Falls and was appointed deputy register of deeds, a position which he held for one and one-half years. Mr. Vasaly was next employed by the firm of Kern & Richardson, attorneys, at St. Paul, Minnesota, and by the Pinkerton National Detective Agency as chief clerk in the St. Paul office. After serving for ten years in this capacity, and having in the meantime completed a night course in law, in 1900 he came to Little Falls and settled permanently. During the past fifteen years Mr. Vasaly has not only practiced law but has done a large business in real estate and mortgage loans. He is one of the influential factors in the com- mercial life of Little Falls and Morrison county.
On June 25. 1907, Stephen C. Vasaly was married to Felicite Fortier, a native of Canada, born on July 17, 1881. Mrs. Vasaly was educated in Canada. To Mr. and Mrs. Vasaly have been born two children, Stephen J. and Cecile.
Mr. Vasaly is a Democrat in politics and is a member of the Catholic church. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus. the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Yeomen, the Modern Brotherhood of America, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Equitable Fraternal Union, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Loyal Order of Moose. For several years he has been a member of the Little Falls school board and of the library board. He is also a member of the board of public works and active in all matters tending toward the development and progress of his home community.
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JAMES HART.
Long Prairie, Minnesota, is proud of its many thriving enterprises, but there is none in which the city and in which Todd county takes a greater measure of pride than in the mercantile establishment founded by the late James Hart in 1887. This firm is one of the largest in the state of Minne- sota, and until his death in 1905 its president and manager, from 1887 to 1905, was Mr. Hart. Since his death the business has been admirably con- ducted by his three sons. Under their management it has outgrown its present quarters and plans are now under way for a splendid new building in which the store is to be housed.
The late James Hlart, founder of the general mercantile store of James Hart & Sons, was born at Weeks, St. Marys, Cornwall, England, and when a lad of fourteen years came to America with his parents. They settled at La Crosse, Wisconsin, living there for a number of years, and later in differ- ent parts of the state of Wisconsin. Subsequently, Mr. Hart settled at Long Prairie, Todd county, and it was here that he met and married Sarah Eliza- beth Barnes, at that time a resident of Burnhamville township, Todd county. She is the daughter of John and Hannah E. (Wood) Barnes and was born at Edenville, New York. Mrs. Hart's mother, Hannah E. Wood, was the daughter of Solomon and Susan ( McCoy) Wood, the former of whom was a soldier in the War of 1812. Solomon Wood's father, John Wood, was a major in the Revolutionary army. Mrs. Hart came with her father to Red Wing, Minnesota, when a girl of twelve years. After living at Red Wing for four years, she went to Bangor, Wisconsin, where for some time she lived with her two aunts, Mrs. William Sawyer and Mrs. Baxter. After- ward, she returned to Minnesota and settled in Burnhamville township, where she lived at the time of her marriage to Mr. Hart.
Mr. and Mrs. James Hart were the parents of six children, all of whom are living. H. E. Hart, who was born in Todd county, was educated in Long Prairie and at Browerville. He also attended the Caton Business College at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He married Lottie Sherman and has one son, Royce Denton. Charles W., the second child, who was born in Todd county, Minnesota, was educated at Long Prairie and at Browerville. He married Clara Murphy and has one son, Harold Charles. Mrs. Clara Hart died some years ago and Mr. Hart was married, secondly, to Cecile Buckingham, and to them have been born three children, James Sylvester. Robert Wood and Donald Elmer. Irving E., the third child, was also edu-
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cated at Long Prairie and at Browerville. He married Etta Hermes and to them has been born one son, Richard Peter. The three daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. James Hart are Mrs. Jeanette Sarff, Mrs. Eva Hillman and Grace. Mrs. James Hart died at Long Prairie, September 16, 1915.
Since the death of James Hart, in 1905, the business which he estab- lished at Long Prairie has been conducted by his three sons, H. E., Charles W. and Irving E. The Hart store is one of the largest in Minnesota. Until a shore time ago the firm owned a large store at Browerville, in Todd county, and another at Hibbing, in St. Louis county. These holdings, however, have been disposed of. In the spring of 1916 the Hart brothers will erect one of the finest business blocks in Todd county. The building which they now occupy is a splendid structure but in recent years the business has grown so fast that a much larger building is necessary.
The Harts have always been leaders in local enterprises. Their busi- ness genius has contributed materially to the civic, moral and educational advancement of Long Prairie and Todd county.
ALEX ANDERSON.
Alex Anderson, a successful merchant of Upsala, Morrison county, Minnesota, and dealer in harness and implements, was born in the town where he now lives on December 29, 1884. Mr. Anderson is the son of John and Sophia ( Nelson) Anderson, the former of whom was born in Sweden, and who after coming to the United States lived at first at James- town, New York, for about ten years. He was there employed as a smelterer and was there married. In about 1880 he came to Upsala and since that time has been engaged in farming forty acres of land about one mile east of the town. He bought the farm upon coming here. Mrs. Sophia ( Nelson) Anderson is also a native of Sweden, who came alone from her native land to America. She has borne her husband eight children, of whom Vena, the second born, and Victoria, the youngest, are deceased. The living chil- dren are, Anna, Alex, John, August, Alvina and Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. John Anderson are members of the Swedish Lutheran church. Mr. Anderson was the first postmaster at Upsala. He is a Republican in politics.
Alex Anderson was educated in the common schools of Upsala, and after finishing school assisted his father on the farm part of the time. When he was only twelve years old he went to Royalton and for a time worked
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for John Swartz, who ran a harness shop. After three years he had suffi- ciently mastered the trade that he was able to work as a journeyman harness maker. At fifteen years old, he came home and for the next three years worked for the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery Company. At the age of eighteen he went to Ferndale, Washington, where he engaged in saw- mill work, remaining two years. When only twenty years old he came back to Upsala and rented eighty acres of land in Elmdale township. He farmed this place for three years and then rented two hundred and forty acres of land which he farmed for two years. In 1912 he rented one hundred and twenty acres of land in Elmdale township and is still farming the land. In October, 1913. Mr. Anderson opened a harness shop in Upsala and in the spring of 1915, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Nels Person, he purchased a business lot and built a magnificent new home for the harness business. The building is fifty by fifty fect. In the spring of 1915 he also added implements to his harness business and has a good trade both in harness and in implements. Mr. Anderson is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery Association.
On July 14, 1909, Alex Anderson was married to Thea Person, a native of Upsala, born on August 23. 1889. Mrs. Anderson is the daughter of Ola and Engred (Johnson) Person, both of whom were born in Sweden ยท but who came separately to the United States. They were married in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Anderson have had two children. Vivian and Floyd.
Although an ardent Republican, Mr. Anderson has never aspircd to office, uever having had time to devote to politics. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Yeomen.
JOHN BERGLUND.
Six miles southeast of Motley, Minnesota, and fourteen miles east and south of Staples, Minnesota, is a magnificent farm of six hundred and forty acres, owned by John Berglund, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Motley township, who has enjoyed a remarkable success since coming to America in 1890, a quarter of a century ago. The Berglund farm is located in sections 34 and 27 and of the six hundred and forty acres, one hundred acres are under cultivation. Mr. Berglund raises on an average sixty acres of corn every year and has won many prizes on his corn. He
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has a magnificent barn fifty-four by fifty-eight feet, which is painted red, and a silo which holds one hundred and thirty tons. The house, which is painted green, comprises seven rooms. In addition to grain, the proprietor of this farm is an extensive breeder of roan Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, upon both of which he has taken first prize at various fairs. Twenty head of milk cattle are kept on the farm and the cream which they produce is sold to the Motley creamery.
John Berglund was born on October 23, 1868, in Sweden, and is the son of James and Kathrine ( Olson) Berglund, the former of whom was born in September, 1841, in Sweden, and who has been a farmer and lumber- . man. He is now living in his native land, but has made two trips across the Atlantic to visit his children in America. Mrs. Kathrine ( Olson) Berg- lund, who was born in 1841, in Sweden, died in 1885. She bore her huus- band nine children, four of whom are still living and who reside in America. Mrs. Christena Westland lives in Minneapolis; John is the subject of this sketch : Emil, who is a furrier by trade, is the manager of the Sunquist Fur Store at St. Paul, Minnesota; Oscar is a merchant at West Duluth.
John Berglund was educated in the public schools of Sweden and after finishing his education worked in the lumber business until 1890, when he immigrated to Rockford, Illinois. At Rockford he engaged in the car- penter's trade, but in 1893 left Rockford and removed to Little Falls, where he engaged in carpenter contract work. During the same year he purchased land in section 26, of Motley township, for which he paid four dollars and one-half an acre. Mr. Berglund's youngest brother remained on the farm with the former's wife while he followed his trade. After a few years he gave up building and engaged in the lumber business and farming. After cultivating twenty-five acres, he sold out and removed to Motley, Minne- sota, where he engaged in the lumber business with the Nicholas Lumber Company, of Little Falls. After three years the family removed to the farm where they now reside, six miles southeast of Motley.
In 1890 Jolin Berglund was married to Augusta Miller, who was born in September, 1861, in Sweden, and who left her native land in 1882 with an uncle, Nels Gernberg, a missionary, who settled at Rockford, Illinois. Mrs. Berglund is a graduate of the schools of her native land. She is the daughter of Lars and Lizzie (Gernberg) Miller, the former of whom was a soldier.
Mr. and Mrs. John Berglund have had ten children, of whom Christina Elizabeth, the eldest, and Mildred, the youngest, are deceased. The other children, Albin, David, Paul, Elfredia, Axel, Theodore, Ruth and Walter live
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at home with their parents. Albin is a graduate of the Commercial College at Duluth, Minnesota.
John Berglund is one of the best-known citizens and farmers in this section of Morrison county. He is an ardent Republican and is now serving on the school board. Formerly he was town supervisor and a member of the Motley town council. Mr. and Mrs. Berglund and family are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Berglund is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
FRANK P. DAVIES.
Frank P. Davies, a prosperous farmer of Round Prairie township, Todd county, Minnesota, is a native of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he was born on August 16, 1858. Mr. Davies is a son of Alvin and Sarah M. (Ives) Davies, the former of whom was a native of Oneida and the latter of St. Lawrence counties, New York.
After the marriage of Alvin and Sarah MI. ( Ives) Davies in New York state, they came west to the state of Wisconsin and for a time resided in Fond du Lac. From Fond du Lac they moved to Belle Plaine, in Scott county, Minnesota, in 1856, and after living there for a short time moved to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and pre-empted a tract of land where they lived until 1884. In that year the parents moved to Todd county and purchased a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, which is now occu- pied by their son, Frank P. Mr. Davies' father died in June, 1897. and his mother in December. 1895. They were the parents of six children, five of whom are living, Henry, who is a resident of Roseau county, Minnesota; Frank P., the subject of this sketch : Minnie E., the wife of Edwin E. Blake, of Orofino, Idaho; Charles J., who is a resident of Kermit, North Dakota. and Carrie B., who is the wife of William Scoles, of Idaho. Jerome. the second child in the family, was a resident of Round Prairie township and died in 1912.
Frank P. Davies received a good education in the common schools of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and later attended the state normal school at Mankato. After completing his education. he was engaged in teaching school for twelve years. For the first five years he devoted his attention exclusively to teaching but during the next seven years taught school in the winter and farmed in the summer. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land in Round Prairie township, upon which he has
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erected a splendid house which is modern in every respect. He has made a specialty of stock raising and now has a fine herd of Holstein and Jersey cattle. He is president of the Little Sauk Rural Telephone Company and a member of the Live Stock Shipping Association of Gray Eagle.
On March 22, 1882, Frank P. Davies was married to Olive A. Foster, who is a daughter of Joseph F. and Susan A. (Williams) Foster. Mrs. Davies was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin. Her father was a native of New York state and her mother of Vermont. They came to Minnesota in pioneer times and settled in Blue Earth county. Mrs. Davies' father died in that county and her mother in Le Sueur county.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Davies have been the parents of five children, four of whom are living and one died in infancy. The living children are, Ida B., the wife of Clarence E. Pearl, of Saskatchewan, Canada; Fay O., who married Lawrence Claffy, of Two Harbors, Minnesota; Benjamin H., and Ives W., both of whom are at home.
Mr. Davies' father served three years as a member of Company E, Ninth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. His father was an ardent Republican in politics and his son is also identified with this party. Frank P. Davies has been clerk of Round Prairie township since March, 1915, and was formerly supervisor of the township. He has also served as a school director. Mr. Davies is a member of Sons of Veterans and the Modern Woodmen of America. The Davies family all belong to the Congregational church.
OTTO J. BRICK.
Otto J. Brick, cashier of the First State Bank of Genola, Morrison county, Minnesota, is a son of Simon l'. and Susie (Lieser) Brick. He was born and educated in Little Falls, graduating from high school in 1912.
Mr. Brick entered the employ of the First National Bank of Little Falls in 1912. He resigned in 1913 and became assistant cashier of the First State Bank of Genola (which was then New Pierz), and became cashier of the bank in January, 1915. Ile also handles real estate and insurance. He was clected village clerk of Genola in March, 1915. Mr. Brick is a Democrat. He is a Catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
The First State Bank of Genola, of which Mr. Brick is cashier, was (42)
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chartered in December, 1911, and has since enjoyed a period of steady and uninterrupted growth. The straightforward business methods of the insti- tution are becoming more and more appreciated by the people of eastern Morrison county, who are to be congratulated upon having in their vieinity an institution with the strength, character and baeking of the First State Bank of Genola.
PETER J. VASALY.
Morrison county has been especially favored in the personnel of its newspaper men and among the representatives of this profession in Morri- son county is Peter J. Vasaly, editor and manager of the Little Falls Herald. During his career in journalism he has not only been successful in a busi- ness way, but through his personal influence and the power of his news- paper he has had much to do with the material advancement of Little Falls and Morrison county. Mr. Vasaly enjoys a large measure of influence in the community where his newspaper circulates and is known throughout Morrison county as an aggressive and fair-minded journalist, as well as a successful business man.
Peter J. Vasaly is a native of Little Falls, born on April 1, 1875. He is the son of Louis and Frances ( Riberi) Vasaly. A\ biographical sketch of the former appears elsewhere in this volume.
Peter J. Vasaly was educated in the common schools of Little Falls. When he was twelve years old he began selling newspapers in his native city. At fifteen years he took up the printing trade in the Herald printing office and later was employed by the Transcript until 1895, when in partner- ship with his two brothers, Stephen and Charles, he purchased the stock of the Herald Printing Company from John Sheets. Immediately after the plant had been purchased, Peter J. Vasaly became foreman of the mechanical department and held this position for many years. He was then made manager and editor of the plant and this position he now holds. He is vice-president of the Northern Minnesota Editorial Association and is well known in Minnesota state journalism.
Mr. Vasaly is heavily interested in real estate and is a stockholder in the Vasaly Realty Company, as well as vice-president of this corporation.
On November 19, 1900, Peter J. Vasaly was married to Anna A. Died- rich, of Little Falls, a native of Stearns county, born at Spring Hill, Septem- ber 30, 1878. Mrs. Vasaly is a daughter of Joseph and Katherine ( Gross )
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