History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 37

Author: Joseph A. Leonard
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 736

USA > Minnesota > Olmsted County > History of Olmsted County, Minnesota > Part 37

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Digitized by Google

350

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

Episcopal church at Dover, of which he is a steward. October 3, 1867, he married Miss Adaline Schaefer, who was born Decem- ber 25, 1847, and was an adopted daughter of Chester Lewis and Sarah Schaefer. For nearly forty-two years Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- son lived happily together, but this companionship was broken by the death of Mrs. Thompson on May 6, 1909. To their marriage six daughters and four sons were born, as follows: Jennie F., now living in Oregon, the wife of John Evans, an engineer ; Jessie N .. married to Burt Russell, a commercial traveler, and resides at Portland. Oregon; Myrtle, a graduate of the Elgin high school, has taught school and is now living with her father; Winnie, born June 9, 1881, died August 11, 1881 ; Mary Belle, who taught school but is now the postmistress of Dover; Mattie A., born October 17. 1870, died September 15, 1871: George L., a farmer near Elgin ; Jay F., a grain dealer at Plainview and formerly a school teacher; Lee, a grain buyer. residing in Dover; and Archie C., a farmer, who resides with his father. Mr. Thompson is an excel- lent type of the men who have so materially assisted in making Olmsted county one of the best in Minnesota, both as to wealth and citizenship.

GUSTAVUS HARGESHEIMER, deceased, will long be remembered as one of the pioneer men and foremost citizens of Rochester. He was born in Bremen, Germany, December 1, 1845, and when twelve years old left his native country and immigrated to America, locating at Chicago, where for a time he attended the public schools. He early decided to take up the study of the drug business, and after clerking a year, took a course in the Rush Medical College. When war was declared between the North and South Mr. Hargesheimer responded to President Lincoln's call for volunteers and enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served with that regiment throughout many stirring campaigns which are now a matter of history, and on August 27, 1864, after a most creditable career, was honorably discharged. The next year he came to Rochester and shortly afterwards estab- lished himself in the drug business, becoming one of the leading and influential men of the city. He always took an active interest in the administration of local public affairs, and when death beck- oned him in 1898 he was serving his second term as county treas- urer. He was prominently identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being at one time grand marshal of the grand lodge of Minnesota, and identified with the Masonic order and the Grand Army of the Republic, and was also secretary of the Ger- man Library Association. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Weber, and eight children were born to them. Mr.

Digitized by Google

35[

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

Hargesheimer was one of the best of the county's citizens and his death was mourned generally throughout the community.

Paul Hargesheimer, his oldest son, was born in Rochester, September 4, 1870, and was educated in the public schools thereof. When his schooling was completed he entered his father's drug store, carefully mastered all the details of that line of business, and in 1895 was admitted to partnership. Until 1900 he acted as manager of the establishment and then withdrew from the firm and started an independent business at the corner of Broadway and Fourth streets. He has since been actively and successfully engaged alone, carrying a full and complete line of drugs, drug- gists' sundries, proprietary medicines and all other articles usually found in a first-class drug store. On April 25, 1895, Mr. Har- gesheimer was married to Miss Nellie Carter, daughter of George Carter, of Rochester, and they have become the parents of the following five children: one who died in infancy, Karl, Paul David, Glenn and Lee, the last two being twins. Aside from his business interests, Mr. Hargesheimer is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Rochester.

Max Hargesheimer, son of Gustavus and brother of Paul, was born in the city of Rochester, November 2, 1872. His early education was acquired in the public schools. Shortly thereafter he entered his father's drug establishment and thoroughly learned that business. He graduated from the Minnesota Institute of Pharmacy in 1882, and later, with his brother, was taken into partnership by his father, and upon the death of the latter in 1898, continued the business until 1900. He then bought out his brother's interest and has since conducted an independent business at the corner of Zumbro and Broadway streets, the same place his father was located. The good will and large trade of the elder Hargesheimer has descended to the son and his establishment is now regarded as one of the finest in southern Minnesota. On February 6, 1900, he was united in marriage with Miss Alice Blakely, the daughter of A. W. Blakely, of the firm of A. W. Blakely & Son, publishers of the Rochester Post and Record, and to them one son. Philip, has been born. When Gustavus Har- gesheimer died his uncompleted term as county treasurer was creditably finished by his son Max. Mr. Hargesheimer is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias and a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 1091, and takes an active interest in all local movements of importance.

THOMAS B. VIVYAN, one of the old settlers and prominent men of Dover township. is a son of William and Catherine Vivyan, both of whom were of English descent. The family came from

Digitized by Google

352

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

England about the year 1830, and at that time the subject of this sketch was about three years of age. They crossed the Atlantic ocean in a sailing vessel, and it required nine weeks to make the passage. They settled first in the state of New York, where the father worked as a miller, continuing thus until his death a few years later.

Thomas B. was born February 5, 1828, and in youth and early manhood received a good education for the times. He finished his education in the high school at Whitestone, New York, in his twentieth year of age. Thereafter, for a year, he assisted his father's family, but after attaining his majority he began for himself. He continued to live in New York state until 1857, when he came west to Illinois. In 1861 he moved into Viola township, Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he helped to break up a farm for his brother-in-law, Irwin Whitmore. Succeeding this event he moved into Dover township and worked there by the month for a year, after which he rented a farm in the same township for three years. During this period he bought eighty acres of wild land, which he broke up by degrees and erected buildings thereon. This tract became the nucleus of his home. After a few years he bought another eighty acres, which he later sold, but he still holds the first eighty acres which he bought. He is also the owner of some town property. He has from the start been prominently identified with public affairs in this portion of the county. He votes the Prohibition ticket, and was a member of the Methodist church from 1843 to 1908. He served as treasurer of the Quincy board of education, and has occupied other positions of trust with fidelity and credit. On January 6, 1857, he married Miss Rocksa Root, of Deerfield, New York, daughter of Lawrence. They had three daughters: Ella, who married Charles Troupe, a mill owner; Mina, who married Walter J. Evans, a retired farmer ; Lottie, married W. J. Evans. Ella has the following children: Nellie, Harry and Mabel, Mina, who died in 1897, left two daughters: Edna and Cecil.

JOHN J. FULKERSON, treasurer of Olmsted county for three terms of two years each, beginning in 1904, is a native of Virginia, his birth occurring at Richmond, October 29, 1854, being a son of John W. Fulkerson. When two years old he was brought by his parents to Olmsted county, Minnesota, and for a number of years lived on a farm near Predmore, in Marion township. His early education was obtained in the district schools, but later for two years he attended the fine schools in the city of Rochester. At the age of twenty years he began clerking for D. H. Moon, in Rochester; but three years later formed a partnership with N. C. Younglove under the firm name of Younglove & Fulkerson

Digitized by Google

Digitized by

Google

TIMOTHY HALLORAN

Digitized by Google

353

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

in the grocery and provision business. About four years later, having purchased his partner's interest, he continued the business alone for two years, but then sold out and was engaged in milling until 1890, when he succeeded Henry F. Gerry in business.

From the start Mr. Fulkerson took much interest in the game of politics and in the public welfare. As a consequence he was brought forward in 1904 by his friends as a candidate for the office of county treasurer and in the ensuing campaign was tri- umphantly elected. After serving one term with much credit he was re-elected to the same office for two terms of two years each. He is credited with having been one of the most painstaking and competent treasurers the county ever had. Previous to his elec- tion to this office he served six years as a member of the Roches- ter school board. No doubt his excellent record in this position had much to do with his nomination to the office of county treas- urer.

Mr. Fulkerson is a Knight Templar Mason and is otherwise identified with local public and benevolent institutions and enter- prises. In September, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Cook, the daughter of Horace Cook, and to their union the following three children were born: John J., Mary I. and Charles W.

TIMOTHY HALLORAN, one of the fine old pioneers of the county and now residing in Elmira township, in the village of Chatfield, came to reside at his present place in 1894. He is a son of Flor- ence and Mary and was born December 5, 1832, near Bandon, County Cork, Ireland. The family is an old one, tracing their ancestry back many generations to the original Irish stock. Florence, the father, died in the old country at the age of fifty years during the historic time of the great famine there. In 1866 his widow and her then immediate family came to America, and here the mother continued to reside until her death April 13, 1890, at the age of eighty years.

Timothy received very little schooling in his native land, but after coming to America he spent about six weeks in the schools of Wisconsin. He immigrated from Ireland to America in 1852 and was landed at Boston. While there he attended the funeral of Daniel Webster. After remaining in Massachusetts two and a half years, he came to Wisconsin in 1855, crossing on the way the new suspension bridge at Niagara Falls. Upon reaching Chi- cago he went to Milwaukee, and in Wisconsin he worked for Lieutenant-Governor Parker about one year and a half. He then returned to Chicago by boat, and from Chicago to Galena by train. He then took the stage-coach to Boscobel, Wisconsin, from which point he and his brother Edward walked thirty-five miles to Prairie

Digitized by Google

354

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

du Chien, which had been an old Indian trading post. From this point he took a boat to Winona and then walked to Chatfield, and thence to Pleasant Valley township, Mower county, where he and his brother pre-empted 160 acres apiece in township 104, range 15. Later Timothy transferred to his brother eighty acres of his tract to pay him for the money he had borrowed to make the entry and purchase. When he left Milwaukee Timothy had $84, but when he arrived at Chatfield he had only $1.50. He remained on the land for thirty days and then returned to Chatfield, arriving December 3, and sleeping the first night in the town. During the night snow to the depth of two and a half feet fell, and the follow- ing morning he went to the woods surrounding Chatfield and there with a friend built a rude log house, using dirt from under the snow to make mortar to fill the crevices. Much of this fell out later and the openings served as windows during the rest of the winter. The cold was intense and practically the whole winter they slept in their shoes and clothes. In the spring of 1857 he bought a yoke of cattle of Mr. Holcomb, for whom he had worked for some time, and going to Chatfield did teaming with the cattle. In a short time his brother bought another yoke of oxen and the two then with their teams grubbed and broke their land during the season of 1858. He then worked on the railroad then building from Rochester to Eyota and earned $38, of which he never received a cent. He then got married and he and his wife cut and sold wood in the town, continuing until 1859, when he rented some land and worked the same until 1860. In the fall of 1860 he bought 160 acres on section 7, upon which he built a frame house, into which they moved in 1861. There they lived until 1878. During that time they acquired another tract of 380 acres, making a total of 540 acres. In 1878 he built a new house and barn. In all he broke up and put under a fine state of cultivation 400 acres, and made a splendid success of his life. He finally sold the 540 acres to his son, Timothy, Jr., for $11,000, and bought another farm of 240 acres, which he deeded to his two other sons- Michael D. and Florence J. The former is practicing law at Rochester and the latter is practicing medicine in St. Paul. Sub- ject holds a life lease on half of the 240 acres, draws interest on three thousand dollars loaned out and owns his home in Chatfield. He was formerly a red-hot Free Soiler and afterwards a Repub- lican. He has occupied the positions of roadmaster and super- visor. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church. His chil- dren are Florence J., Michael D., Nora, a widow of John R. Manahan. His wife was formerly Catherine Maguire, to whom he was married December 27, 1858, she being the daughter of Michael and Mathilda. Catherine died October 1, 1909.

Digitized by Google

355

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

THOMAS L. PHELPS, now serving his third term as auditor of Olmsted county, is a native of this portion of Minnesota, his birth occurring March 5, 1868, in Marion township. He was the fourth in a family of six children born to the marriage of Thomas W. Phelps, of Steuben county, New York, and Eliza J. Hoover, of Center county, Pennsylvania, who were of Welsh and German extraction, respectively. The parents came to Olmsted county in 1857 and for many years actively participated in its growth and development. They located on a farm in Marion township and were there engaged in agricultural pursuits until comparatively recent years, when they removed to California. There they both passed away, the father on June 1, 1899, and the mother in 1903. Through their deaths Olmsted county lost two of its earliest set- tlers and best citizens. The following children were born to them : Luella, deceased; Sadie, Mina, Thomas L., Emma, and Jennie. Thomas W. Phelps was for a number of years surveyor of Olmsted county and also served two terms in the state legislature. Ancestors on both sides of the family figured more or less prominently in the war between the North and South, one obtaining the rank of captain in the Union army.

During boyhood days Thomas L. Phelps assisted his father in the work of the home farm and attended the district schools. He later went to St. Paul and spent two years in Hamline University, at which institution he figured prominently in athletics and de- bating. For the succeeding four years he taught in the district schools of Olmsted county, and on September 14, 1898, was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Coulson, daughter of William Coulson. To this union four children have been born: Luella, Tom, Wallace and Virginia. For a time after their marriage Mr. Phelps and wife resided on the old homestead in Marion township, the family having previously removed to California, but in 1904 Mr. Phelps was elected to the position of county auditor and they rented the farm and moved to Rochester. Mr. Phelps has most satisfactorily filled this position for the past three terms. In his political views he is a Republican and he and wife affiliate with the Methodist church. Socially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Royal Arcanum and the Modern Woodmen of America.

HALVOR NERESON is a native of Norway and was born June 24, 1843. His parents were Nereck and Julia, who came to this country in 1853 and settled in Wisconsin, where they engaged in farming for two years. They then moved to Olmsted county and settled on a farm in section 3, Rock Dell township. Here the father died in 1864 and was buried in East St. Olaf's cemetery.

Digitized by Google

356

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

His widow survived him until 1880, when she, too, passed away and was placed at rest on the family lot in the same cemetery. At the age of sixteen Halvor left home and began the struggle of life on his own account. For six years he did teaming between Winona and Rochester and then for two years did teaming for R. J. Johnson. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Miss Ellef Engeborg, whose parents were pioneers of Rock Dell town- ship. Her mother died in 1870 and her father in 1871. They were prominent people in their neighborhood and lived useful and highly creditable lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Nereson the following children were born: Julia, who married Sten Paulson and is the mother of six children; Amelia M., who married Martin Bratager in 1890; Neil, a farmer in Dakota; Jorgina, who married Henry Gunnef- son and resides in Salem township; one daughter, Thea, married Juul Gunnefson; Ellis; Henry; Neman, Timan; William; Ella; Alma; the last seven being yet with their parents. Halvor is a member of the United Lutheran church. He holds stock in the Farmers' Lumber Company, at Hayfield, in the Zumbro Creamery Company, and in the Farmers' Telephone Company. His farm is well developed and under a high state of cultivation, with good buildings, equipment and high-grade live stock. They had the misfortune to lose their house by fire at eleven o'clock at night in 1899. The origin of the fire has always been a mystery. Had a son who had been to a neighbor's not returned at that time, it is probable that the whole family would have perished. He returned just in time to discover the fire and save the family. Mr. Nereson is a Republican and has ever been prominent in the affairs of the township.

GEORGE A. HALLENBECK was born in Trenton, Wisconsin, November 15, 1849, and when a boy fifteen years old came with his parents to Olmsted county, Minnesota, locating in Quincy township. His father, Caleb B. Hallenbeck, was born in New York, November 3, 1815, and married Rosannah Goodnow. They came to this locality the spring of 1864, and the car that brought their goods was a part of the first freight train here from Winona over the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hallenbeck were as follows: Adeline Davis, born September 29, 1838, died June 23, 1875 : Gustavus, born November 9, 1840; Charity M., born November 1, 1842, died in 1850; Cynthia A. Kepner, born September 15, 1844, died August 24, 1906; Ger- trude A., born December 6, 1846, died February 21, 1849; the sub- ject of this sketch; Charity Amelia Daniels, born September 13, 1851, residing in Chicago; Duane H., born November 28, 1853, died May 20, 1854; Gertrude M. Imus. born June 30, 1855; Ella E. Tib- betts, born February 6, 1858. The father died December 11, 1904,

Digitized by Google

357.

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

and the mother January 2. 1886. George A. Hallenbeck has always followed the occupation of a farmer, and he now owns 848 acres of land, a part of which is the old homestead. October 13, 1879, he mar- ried Wealthy Evans, daughter of S. B. and Sophia (Foster ) Evans. Her father was born in Ohio October 13, 1829, and is yet living; his wife died February 23, 1903. Besides Mrs. Hallenbeck, who was born October 1, 1857, they were the parents of three sons: Edgar F., born March 30, 1855; Homer J., born July 8, 1860, and Earl E., born March 3, 1868. To the marriage of George A. Hallenbeck and Wealthy Evans seven children have been born, as follows: Inez Welch, September 14, 1880; Dorr Foster, July 24, 1882, now a practicing physician of St. Paul; Gertrude Ethel Watterson, December 21, 1884; Frances B., January 25, 1887; Vincent, June 19, 1889; Robert Roe, November 6, 1895, and Harold Courtney, August 1, 1899. Mr. Hallenbeck is a Repub- lican and for years served as school clerk. Mrs. Hallenbeck and daughters are members of the Eastern Star chapter of the A. F. & A. M. at Plainview.

OLE SCHARBERG was born in Sweden in 1828 and was reared in that country and given a fair education. In 1860 he married Breta Abrahamson, who was also a native of the same country, her birth occurring in 1829. They came to America in 1862 and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, where they worked at farming for two years and then moved to the famous copper region of Michigan, where Mr. Scharberg worked in the mines for about one year. They finally came to Rock Dell township and bought eighty acres in section 19. This was in 1865. Mr. Scharburg con- tinued to work at his trade and on the farm until his death, Feb- ruary 5, 1900. He became well known and possessed the respect of everybody. At the time of his death he was the owner of 260 acres of well improved land. His son, Carl O., who is now in possession of the old homestead. was born April 27, 1866, and was reared on the farm and received a common school education. He was confirmed at St. Olaf's Church. In 1901 he married Miss Caroline Rockvam, a native of Norway. To this marriage the following children were born: Arthur, born in 1902; Nora, born in 1903; Alice, born in 1905: Floyd, born March, 1906; Walter, born in 1908. His sister Sofie was born in 1862, married John Elingson, has three children and lives in North Dakota; his brother Frank was born in 1864 and died in 1865; his brother August was born May 15, 1868, married Mary Hansen and resides in Dodge county ; his sister Lizzie was born in 1871, married Isick Trondson, a farmer at Hayfield, also running a feed mill; his brother Frank was born in 1873 and is now engaged on the construction of the Panama canal.

Digitized by Google

358

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

VICTOR A. QVALE, one of the foremost druggists of the city of Rochester, was born in Haugesund, Norway, July 8, 1867, the youngest child of A. G. Qvale. When he was but three years of age the father immigrated to America ; later he was actively engaged in farming in Story county, Iowa. In 1874 the family first came to Minnesota, but later removed to Wisconsin, where the father finally passed away. Three sons and three daughters were born to him, five of whom are yet living. Of these, Sigvald A. Qvale, whose birth occurred in Haugesund, Norway, July 18, 1852, came to America in 1868 and for a time clerked in a dry goods estab- lishment in Rochester, Minnesota. He later was connected with the land office of the Omaha Railroad Company, at Hudson, Wis- consin, but subsequently removed to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and there, by shrewd business dealings, accumulated a fortune of several hundred thousand dollars. One of his most remarkable characteristics was a phenomenal memory, and this was of im- mense value to him in his extensive business transactions. Many men, who are now independently established in the various walks of life, got their start in the business world through the kind words and pecuniary assistance of Sigvald A. Qvale. He took an espe- cial interest in the welfare and success of his fellowmen and his memory is blessed by many who, through his assistance, are now wealthy and independent.

Victor A. Qvale, a younger brother of Sigvald and the imme- diate subject of this review, received his early education in the public schools of this country, and supplemented this with a course in St. John's University at Collegeville, Minnesota. Early in life he decided to take up the study of and engage in the drug business, and in 1883 entered the store of John R. Swann, at New Rich- land, Minnesota. After a short time spent at Eau Claire, Wiscon- sin, he went to St. Paul and for two years clerked in a drug estab- lishment, but then removed to and for a time resided at Helena, Montana. Upon the death of his brother he returned to Eau Claire and soon afterwards came to Rochester and, in partnership with John R. Swann, established himself in the drug business at the corner of Zumbro and Broadway. Six months later he bought out the interests of his partner and in 1893 moved to his present location, 217 South Broadway. Here he has since conducted a large and profitable business, having an elegantly appointed store and carrying a complete line of drugs, medicines and in fact every- thing that is usually found in a first-class establishment of the kind. He also does an extensive business in the manufacture and sale of ice cream, both wholesale and retail. On March 11, 1896, Mr. Qvale was married to Miss Jennie E. Cook, daughter of Horace Cook, of Rochester, and to them the following children have been born: Victor, Frederick, Richard, Jenevieve, Elizabeth,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 37

Author: Joseph A. Leonard Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Number of Pages: 736

Author: Joseph A. Leonard
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 736