History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 43

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

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May, with her parents; Mary Allison, the wife of Fred Hoaglan, of Stewartville; Allene, the wife of Donald J. Chatham, of Fari- bault; Jackson Glazier, secretary and treasurer of the milling company, at Stewartville. Soon after the marriage of James M. and Ann, they made a wedding tour of England, and upon their return located at Limaville, Ohio, where he and his father-in-law conducted a mill for two years. Then for a short period he was in the milling business in Michigan with his wife's uncle, Samuel Colton; then was foreman of a large mill at Petersburg, Ken- tucky; then conducted a mill in Illinois, and finally came to Chat- field, Minnesota, in April, 1861, where he conducted a mill on shares for three years. Then for short periods he operated mills ten miles from Richmond, Virginia, at Hannibal, Missouri, and Chatfield, Minnesota, three years more; Horicon, Wisconsin, one year; Winnebago City, three years, or until driven away by grass- hoppers. He then came to Olmsted county "broke." He again engaged in milling at Chatfield, buying the Elmira Mills in Olmsted county on time, which he conducted until August, 1901, then bought a mill at Chatfield, which was burned down a year later, sustaining a loss of $10,000 over insurance. In 1898 his sons bought the Stewart Mill, at Stewartville, which they recently in- corporated under the name of "Cussons Milling Company," with James M. Cussons as president. He resides in the stone house called "Riverside," near the bridge. He has been a member of Meridian Lodge, No. 56, A. F. & A. M., over forty years. It has been his custom to refuse political office. In 1904, and continuing for about a year, Mr. Cussons wrote for the American Miller, of Chicago, a series of interesting reminiscences connected with his experiences covering a period of over fifty years.

FRED SUMNER HAINES, president and general manager of the Rochester Telephone Company, was born September 23, 1860, in Somersworth, New Hampshire, a son of John Sherburne and Theodate (Nowell) Haines, natives of New Hampshire and Maine, respectively. Both sides of the family are of Colonial stock, one of the maternal ancestors having participated in the Revolutionary war. The father was a merchant and manufacturer by occupation and followed that business through life. His son Fred, the sub- ject of this memoir, received his early education in the public schools of his native state, and then entered Exeter Academy. This was supplemented by a course in Harvard University, from which institution Mr. Haines was graduated in 1885 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Shortly after his schooling was com- pleted he came to Rochester, Minnesota, and for a time was em- ployed in a clerical capacity in the Rochester National bank. In 1895 Mr. Haines, one of the organizers of the Rochester Tele-

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phone Company, was elected to and accepted the position of presi- dent and general manager and has been thus associated ever since. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious views is a mem- ber of the Episcopalian church. Socially, he is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. On February 14, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Woodruff Faitoute, of Rochester, appropriate mention of her parentage being made elsewhere in this work, and to them the following four sons have been born; John Sherburne, Samuel Faitoute, Fred Sumner and Woodruff Nowell.

B. MAGNESEN was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, Novem- ber 4, 1847. (For sketch of his parentage, see the biography of N. Magnesen.) He grew up on a farm and in youth received such education as the district schools afforded. Upon reaching manhood he made up his mind to become a farmer and such he has been all his life to the present time. In 1888 he was joined in matrimony to Miss Ella Roe, whose parents were pioneer settlers of Iowa. Mr. Magnesen had the usual hard time in getting started in business and had to depend upon his own exertions, but he finally succeeded and now is prosperous and independent. In 1878 he bought a farm of 160 acres of Marcus Wing, the property being known as the old Norman place. He was the owner of twenty acres before, now owning in all 180 acres. Since buying the prop- erty he has made vast improvements, until now there is scarcely a better improved farm in the whole township. He has excellent buildings and the farm is well provided with modern implements and well stocked with high grade live stock. Mr. Magnesen is the owner of blocks of stock in the Zumbro Creamery Company and in the Farmers' Telephone Company.

WILLIAM H. MITCHELL, the present sheriff of Olmsted county, was born at Winona, Minnesota, June 16, 1861. He is one in a family of ten children, seven now living, born to William and Sarah (Hall) Mitchell. William Mitchell was a native of Scot- and and there worked at his trade of dyer. When twenty-eight years old he came to the United States and was married at Hunt- ington, Indiana, and always, in this county, was engaged in farm- ing. He moved to Olmsted county in 1861, first settling in Farm- ington township, but later removing to Dover township, where he died. William H. Mitchell has never known any home but in Olmsted county. He was educated in the common schools, and upon attaining his majority started out for himself as a farm hand, working for two years by the month. He then rented a farm and from means thus acquired bought land in Eyota town- ship, where he now owns 188 acres. Mr. Mitchell started out in

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life for himself without a dollar in his pocket, and such means as he has accumulated has been through hard work and his own, unaided efforts. In politics he is a believer in the policies of the Republican party, and as such has served by election four years as county commissioner. In 1908 he was nominated and elected sheriff of the county, and two years later, in 1910, was renom- inated for that position. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Eastern Star of that fraternity, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Red Men and the Modern Woodmen of America. In December, 1884, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucy V. Brown, by whom he is the father of three children-Marion, now Mrs. P. H. Cole- man, and Doris and Bernice.

ALFRED TROUPE, who, since October, 1899, has been engaged in the hotel business at Dover, Olmsted county, was born September 21, 1851, in Iroquois county, Illinois, a son of Henry and Mary A. Troupe. Henry Troupe was a son of Jacob Troupe, and the latter was the son of the progenitor of the Troupe family in America, who immigrated to this country from Germany at an early date. Henry Troupe, the father of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, his birth occurring at Philadelphia in 1800, and he was educated and reared to early manhood in Baltimore, Mary- land. Early in life he came west to Stark county, Ohio, and from there went to Middleport, Illinois, where he opened a general store and remained thus successfully engaged until his death on April 8, 1859. He was fifty-nine years of age, and his wife, who passed away May 20, 1889, seventy-five at the time of their de- mise. To them the following ten children were born : Henry, Jr., died in infancy; Theodore, died March 28, 1901, aged sixty-six years; Louis, born June 20, 1837, died January 12, 1865; David, born September 20, 1839, died November 15, 1863; Melvina, boru December 16, 1841, died May 31, 1853; Edward, born April 18, 1844, died July 11, 1863; Elnora, born June 25, 1846, married Joseph Horton, of Watseka, Illinois, died in 1888 and husband in 1909; Caroline, born January 2, 1849, married Abraham Andrew, died April 10, 1902; Alfred, subject; Charles, born August 15, 1857, in the mill business at Watseka, Illinois.

Until eighteen years old Alfred attended school in his native county in Illinois. When twenty-one years of age he inherited a farm of 185 acres from his father, which he held until the fall of 1873, when he came to Quincy township, Olmsted county, and settled on a farm of 120 acres. He erected thereon a fine home and made improvements until it was one of the most valuable prop- erties in the community. Here he lived, actively engaged in farm- ing, until he retired from the active duties of life, twenty-one years

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after coming to this part of the country. He sold this tract in June, 1910, and now devotes his entire time to his hotel business at Dover. By hard and conscientious work Mr. Troupe has acquired a competency, and is one of Olmsted county's most suc- cessful business men. In politics he is independent, although of Democratic tendencies, and votes for the man rather than the party. He has served as chairman of the town central committee. So- cially he is a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars and in religious views is identified with the Methodist church, of which he is a trustee. On November 26, 1870, at Watseka, Illi- nois, he was married to Miss Isabelle W. Lindsey, daughter of Levi and Maryan R. Lindsey. Mr. Lindsey was born in the year 1816 and died September 22, 1892, aged seventy-six years; his wife passed away August 7, 1894, aged sixty-eight years, and to them were born five other children than Isabelle W., as follows: Mary, died in infancy; Horris Lindsey, died in 1902; Nellie, wife of Scott W. Yates, real estate dealer of Pittwood, Illinois; Arthur T., in livery business at Villard, Minnesota; and Ira D., residing in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Troupe had three children born to them, but all died in infancy.

GEORGE S. HANNON, clerk of the district court, is a native of Olmsted county, Minnesota, his birth occurring September 18, 1875. He is the only one now living of two children born to the marriage of Leander G. Hannon and Sarah E. Smith, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The father was a farmer by occupation and came to Olmsted county about the year 1856. When President Lincoln called for troops to suppress the rebellion, he volunteered his services and was enrolled a mem- ber of Company K., Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. When peace was declared he returned to his home in Oronoco township, resumed farming, but retired in 1898 to the city of Rochester, where he died December 24, 1904. His widow still survives him. George S. Hannon was educated chiefly in the public schools and was reared to hard work on the home farm. From the position of clerk in a store he was appointed deputy clerk of the district court, in which capacity he served eight years. In 1906 he be- came the nominee of the Republican party for clerk of the district court and was duly elected to this position. He attends the Metho- dist church, and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Sep- tember 19, 1905, he married Miss Bertha L. Blickle, a member of one of the oldest and best families of Rochester, appropriate men- tion of whom is herein published, and to them a daughter has been

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born, named Eleanor Louise. Mrs. Hannon is a Universalist in religious views.

HARLOW BROWN, assistant cashier and a director of the First State Bank of Dover, was born October 1, 1855, son of Stephen H. and Margaret S. Brown. For generations this branch of the Browns lived in the state of New York and it was there that the parents of the subject of this sketch were married. They moved to Illinois in 1836, and from there to Winona, Minnesota, in 1859, subsequently removing to St. Charles, where the father was en- gaged in merchandising. In 1875 they came to Dover, where they lived in quiet retirement the remainder of their days, the father dying November 27, 1882, and the mother January 14, 1900, and both being buried in the Dover cemetery. They were honest, God- fearing people and commanded the respect and esteem of all with whom they came in contact. They became the parents of four children : Albert, a retired farmer in Washington; Julia A., the wife of William T. Ives, a retired farmer of Fairmont, Minne- sota; Charles H., president of the First National Bank of Ingle- wood, California, and Harlow. Harlow Brown was educated in the public schools of St. Charles, and the high school of Winona. After leaving school he lived with his parents on a farm near St. Charles, and after coming to Dover attended to his father's busi- ness; the latter being an invalid for several years before his death. In 1881, in company with L. W. Needham, he bought an elevator in Dover, but soon after buying Mr. Needham's interest in 1885 he sold the elevator, retiring from the grain business. From 1889 to 1901 he was railway postal clerk on the Chicago & North-Western railroad. In 1903 he became assistant cashier of the First State bank, a position he has ever since filled to the satis- faction of all concerned. In politics he is a Republican by con- viction, and for years has served as a deputy sheriff. In the Masonic fraternity he has attained the order of Knights Templar, being a member of Home Commandery, No. 5, at Rochester, and Osman Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at St. Paul. September 27, 1883, he married Della Greenwood Coppersmith, at Eyota, daugh- ter of George G. and Helen Coppersmith, of German ancestry, where the name originally was Kupferschmidt. Mr. and Mrs. Coppersmith came to Olmsted county, Minnesota, in 1875. They were the parents of four sons and one daughter, as follows: Frank W., engaged in railroad work; Arthur L., a railroad engi- neer; George A., conductor on a railroad; Royal A., telegraph operator, and Della. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown one son has been born, Lou Roscoe, who died May 2, 1895. They are well known citizens of Dover and among the best in Olmsted county.

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WALTER LOWRY BRACKENRIDGE, who died in Rochester on August 18, 1899, was a man of more than ordinary force of char- acter and energy, and was one of the pioneers of this locality. He was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1824, of Scotch ancestry, and was educated in the public schools of Mead- ville, Pennsylvania, and in an academy at Kingsville, Ohio. He subsequently read law at Meadville, was admitted to the bar and practiced his profession there until 1855. He then came to Roches- ter, Minnesota, at that time little more than a frontier village, and, hanging out his "shingle," began practicing law and dealing in real estate. He first came to Olmsted county in 1853 on a prospecting tour through the West, and his keen business acumen foresaw the future greatness of the location, and he decided to make his future home at Rochester. He was unusually successful and accumulated a competency. At the time the old Winona & St. Peter railroad was built Mr. Brackenridge became the attorney for the company, a position he retained for many years. The latter years of his life were devoted almost exclusively to looking after his extensive real estate holdings. Mr. Brackenridge was what might properly be termed an optimist. He continually saw opportunities for im- provement and expansion, not only in matters applied to himself, and his benefactions to the city and county of his adoption were many. Previous to his removal from Pennsylvania he married Margaret McC. Logan, in 1855. Three children were born to this union : W. Logan, Madge (now Mrs. G. D. Parmele), and Blanche (Mrs. Dr. Christopher Graham). Logan Brackenridge lived to become one of the leading lawyers of Rochester. He possessed talents of a high order and was especially endowed with qualifica- tions to make and retain friends. When all the world was beckon- ing for his advancement he was stricken and passed away in June, 1905. Mrs. Margaret Brackenridge is one of the few remaining of the old settlers of Rochester, and distinctly recalls that there were but two stores on Broadway and two log cabins east of the river when she came to Rochester as a bride. She has lived to see the transition of an outpost settlement into a populous community of happy homes, and as the evening of her life approaches her chief happiness is the recollection of the past, while in the midst of loved relatives and valued friends.

DANIEL HISEY (deceased) was born in Ohio May 28, 1834, and in that state spent the greater part of his early life. He re- ceived there a common school education and that training in busi- ness and in good conduct that characterized all his subsequent life. In 1856 he came to Olmsted county and first located on section 17, Eyota township, but after making important improvements he sold out to good advantage and bought a larger tract of unimproved

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land in Orion township, and began to improve the same. On April 21, 1859, he married Catherine, daughter of Jephtha and Marian Cline, both of whom were of direct German descent. Her mother was a Plank, from one of the early families of this county. When Daniel and Catherine took possession of their wild and unim- proved place, they first built a small shanty, which they occupied for two years. They then built a substantial log house, in which they lived until 1901, when the present building was erected. The little shanty first occupied was small and rude, but it was sufficient to shield them from the dreadful storms of winter. The log house was much better and was a good one, even where log houses were common. Both Daniel and Catherine worked hard, because they were looking for better days, when they could have a large tract under cultivation, could be out of debt and have money to spare for better comforts and surroundings. This worthy couple cannot be praised too highly for their steady and industrious lives and for their good conduct generally. In all things husband and wife worked together and were happy in their long struggle for a home and competence. After a steady residence of over forty-four years in the county the husband and father finally passed away on July 28, 1898, leaving behind an excellent name and a loving family and many faithful friends who mourned his departure. He was a most excellent man, kind in his family, loving to his wife and earnest and sincere in all of life's duties. After his lamented death his widow continued the improvements to the farm that had been commenced by her husband. Assisted by her son Frank she added to the buildings, enlarged the barn, built new sheds, and last but not least erected the fine modern residence now occupied by her. She is now somewhat retired from the active duties of life, though she still continues to take keen interest in the improvement of the old place. Being an excellent business woman, she directs how farm affairs shall be conducted. Her long life has, as a whole, been a happy one, and she is now well preserved, with full possession of her faculties and is a lady any one will be glad to converse with. She is kind hearted, liberal and generous and possesses a soul that looks beyond the confines of this sordid world to higher and better things. When the final summons comes it will find her well prepared. To Daniel and Catherine were born four children, as follows: William J. A., died October 7, 1863, aged three and a half years. John D. A. died September 7, 1862, at the age of seven and a half months. Mary J. married Frank E. Man- ning, a farmer and neighbor, and they have the following children : Ella M .. Minnie C., Walter M., Jay I., Jake H., Guy A., Avis M., Edith B., and Clifford F. Frank M. married Antonette Tesca and they have three children: John William, Lewis Lester and Paul Henry. Frank and his family live with his mother Catherine.

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Their home is on 180 acres on section 16, Orion township, and their postoffice is Chatfield.

ARCHIBALD C. STEVENSON, for many years actively engaged in the insurance business at Rochester, Minnesota, is a native of Wisconsin, born at Janesville, December 22, 1862. His paternal grandfather, Archibald Stevenson, came from his native country, Scotland, to America when a young man, and purchasing a tract of land was engaged in farming until his death. David Steven- son was the father of the immediate subject of this sketch. He moved to Wisconsin at an early period and there represented the Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Company, which later was ab- sorbed by the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1873 he came to Rochester, Minnesota, as general agent for the southern half of this state for the latter corporation, having in charge a large number of sub-agencies in the different districts. He thus continued actively engaged until his death, October 10, 1900. He married Helen Sanborn, a native of Chelsea, Vermont, and they were among the best known people of Rochester and were members of the Congregational church. Archibald C. Stevenson, their son. received his schooling in his native state, upon the completion of which he associated with his father in the insurance business, and with him came to Rochester and eventually succeeded him in business. He is now associated in partnership with James A. Melone. On April 25, 1883, Mr. Stevenson was united in marriage with Miss Hattie M. Bell, daughter of Edward Bell, of Milwaukee, and three children born to them are named David F., Willard Arthur and Robert. In 1903 and again in 1904 he was elected mayor of Rochester and in many other ways has been actively identified with the social and commercial growth and development of Rochester. He is a Knight Templar and a thirty-second degree Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Mason, a noble of the Mystic Shrine and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

TORSTEN H. EVJEN was born in Norway, January 1, 1853, and is a son of Haldor and Bereth Evjen, who passed their entire lives at the business of farming. Torsten H. grew up in his native land and spent his youth on his father's farm and in getting an education principally at the parochial schools. In 1880 he rented his farm for four years, crossed the Atlantic ocean, landed in Quebec, and came west to Minnesota and located in Salem town- ship, where he commenced work as a stonemason, which trade he followed for four years. He then in the first part of November, 1883, returned to Norway, sold his farm, and while there mar- ried Miss Ane Evjen, whose maiden name was thus the same as his own. The marriage occurred March 17, 1884. Then, accom-

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panied by his bride, he again came to America and located in Rock Dell township, where he bought eighty acres in section 30, which he has increased until he now owns 160 acres and has one of the best farms of the county. The land is under a high state of culti- vation, and the farm is well equipped with good buildings, fences, and pasturage. The buildings cost a total of $4,000. Mr. and Mrs. Evjen are the parents of ten children, as follows: Berta, born November 9, 1884, now a dressmaker in St. Paul; Anna, born March 2, 1886, living in Rochester; Hedvig and Regine, twins, born May 12, 1888; Regine is in Rochester, and Hedvig is with her parents; Henry, born March 7. 1892; Gurena, born December 17, 1895; Rosa, born May 1, 1897; Serena, born February I, 1900; Tina Andrine, born January 2, 1903; Josephine, born March I, 1907. Mr. Evjen is a member of the United Lutheran church and is a Republican in politics. He is a stockholder in the Farm- ers' Creamery, at Rock Dell, and in the Farmers' Lumber Com- pany, at Hatfield. In 1906 his barn was struck by lightning and was entirely consumed, together with its contents of hay, grain and machinery. He has recently erected a new barn with cement floors and up-to-date improvements. His surroundings are prob- ably not surpassed in the county. He is up-to-date and conducts his farm according to the latest and best methods. He is proud of his farm, of his children, of his home and of his country.

JAMES ARTHUR MELONE has been for years one of the well- known insurance men of Minnesota. Born July 1, 1867, at Nor- wich, Ohio, he was a son of William and Jane (Stevenson) Melone, both of whom were natives of that state and descended from old, pioneer families. David Melone, the grandfather of James Arthur, settled in Washington, Pennsylvania, at an early date, but in 1825 removed to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he followed farming the rest of his life. When war was declared between the North and South, William Melone, the father of our subject, enlisted at New Concord for the preservation of the Union, in Company A of the Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served with credit throughout the stirring campaigns around Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and many others. R. B. Brown, of Zanesville, Ohio, the present commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, was a member of the same com- pany and served with Mr. Melone throughout the entire war. At the conclusion of that memorable struggle they were honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, and Mr. Melone immediately returned to his home in Norwich. He was appointed agent there for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and held that position until his voluntary retirement in 1904. He is still living, active and hearty, takes a keen interest in the important topics of the day and is

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History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 43

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

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