History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 44

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

USA > Minnesota > Olmsted County > History of Olmsted County, Minnesota > Part 44

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

413

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

highly esteemed and respected by all who know him. Six children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Melone.

The early education of James Arthur Melone was acquired in the public schools of Norwich, Ohio, and this, when he came to Rochester in 1884, was supplemented by a course in the high school here. Previous to his arrival in Olmsted county he had studied telegraphy, and for one year after his graduation from high school was employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company in Ohio. In 1889, however, he returned to Rochester and engaged for two years as bookkeeper in the offices of Mr. David Stevenson, the general agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He then, until 1900, acted as special agent for Mr. Stevenson, when, upon the death of the lat- ter, he frmed a partnership with A. C. Stevenson, styled Stevenson & Melone, and continued the business. They now have com- modious quarters in the new Wagoner block, and, aside from their own immediate transactions, operate a number of branch agencies throughout southern Minnesota. On October 28, 1903, Mr. Me- lone was united in marriage with Miss Grace, daughter of Adolphus Van Sickle, of Chicago, and they have two children, Jane and James Arthur, Jr. Mr. Melone also is a stockholder and secre- tary and treasurer of the Rochester Telephone Company. In 1899 he was elected mayor of the city of Rochester. Aside from the active business cares of life he has found time to cultivate the social side as well, and as such is prominently identified with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias. Of the former organi- zation he is a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason and. a member of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

DR. WILSON ADOLPHUS ALLEN, by reason of many years spent in the conscientious practice of his profession in Olmsted county, has acquired the reputation of being one of the most distinguished of the local medical practitioners. His birth occurred March 6, 1834, in Pendleton, Indiana, and he was one of a family of eight born to the union of William Allen, of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Sarah Prather, of West Virginia. The progenitors of the Allen family in this country were three brothers, of English ex- traction, who came from Switzerland and located in New England and the Carolinas at a very early date. Joseph Allen, the grand- father of Dr. Allen, settled with his family in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1809, and there spent the balance of his life farming. William Allen, the father of our subject, worked on his father's farm for a time, and married in that county, but later removed to the unsettled heart of Madison county, same state, purchased a tract of land there and by hard work and intelligent cultivation added greatly to his properties and became a very successful

Digitized by Google

414

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

farmer. He was a man of unusually sound judgment and took an active interest in the advancement and development of the county. He was regarded by all who knew him as a representative man and a public-spirited citizen, and although he took an active interest in all political affairs, he never aspired to any of the higher offices. Eight children were born to Mr. Allen and wife, four now living, as follows: Benjamin F., of Glencoe, Minnesota; Mrs. H. A. Mann, of Wells county, Indiana; Mrs. C. W. Wynany, of Hen- dricks county, Indiana, and Dr. Wilson A.

The latter received his elementary education in the district schools of Pendleton, Indiana, and later entered the seminary at that place. Subsequently he attended Franklyn College, Johnston county, Indiana, and after completing the course there was pro- fessor of mathematics for one year in Pendleton Seminary. He engaged in the drug business and continued to study and practice as a druggist for four years. . Not being satisfied with this branch of the business, and in order to become more proficient in his knowledge of drugs, he began the study of medicine, with the view of practicing under the direction of T. G. Mitchell, M. D., of Pendleton, Indiana, and continued with him in study and prac- tice for five years. In 1865 he moved to Plainview, Minnesota, and resumed the practice, continuing there for five years. Later, he went to Chicago and attended the Hahnemann Medical Col- lege. He was graduated with honors from this institution in 1879, and four years later also completed the post-graduate course of that school. In 1872 he then came to Rochester, secured offices in the Leland block, and has since been actively and successfully engaged at his work here. The doctor has given much study to the advancement of his profession and is the inventor of the invalid elevator, a device used in the raising and removing of the sick without the customary pull and strain on the patient. This invention has been patented in America, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France and Belgium, and. as it really does away with many of the attendant aches and suffering caused by moving the sick and suffering, it is destined for a great future. It should be a source of much comfort and gratification to Dr. Allen to know that he has been instrumental in the relief of so many sufferers.

Aside from his medical work, the doctor has served as mayor of the city of Rochester and has taken much interest in his social relations with his fellowmen. He is a Knight Templar and thirty- second degree Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the State Ho- meopathic Association and the American Institute of Homeopathy. On October 25, 1855, he was united in marriage with Miss Flora S. Huston, a daughter of John Huston, a pioneer shipbuilder at Portsmouth, Ohio. To this union one son, Caison Monroe, the

Digitized by Google

415

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

present cashier of the First State Bank of Wycoff, Fillmore county, Minnesota. has been born. By reason of his work in the field of invention Dr. Allen was elected a member of the Academy of Inventors, Paris, France, and was tendered a gold medal by that organization. By earnest and conscientious work he has risen to a position of honor and respect among his fellowmen, and is one of the oldest and foremost medical practitioners of Olmsted county.

HENRY O. CHRISTENSEN, judge of the probate court of Olmsted county, is of Danish parentage, his father, John Christensen, hav- ing come to the United States in 1865. The family came to Olmsted county, Minnesota, and in 1867 settled on a farm in Kalmar township, and here Henry O. Christensen, the second in a family of four sons, was born July 13, 1872. He taught and at- tended school for some years and, having decided to become a law- yer. entered the legal department of Drake University, at Des Moines, Iowa, from which institution he was duly graduated in 1900. He was at once regularly admitted to practice. Succeeding this he returned to Olmsted county and became a member of the law firm of Fraser & Christensen. He was thus associated until . 1902, when. upon his election as judge of the probate court, he resigned his legal connection with the above firm and has since served continuously in that official position. Judge Christensen is a Democrat in politics.

WILLIAM AUSTIN JOHNSTON was born at Ladoga, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, March 28, 1862. His father was Robert Bruce Johnston, who was born at Greenoch, Scotland, in March, 1818. The father was left an orphan at the age of eleven years and was then apprenticed to a ropemaker. After completing his apprentice- ship he crossed the Atlantic ocean to Canada and landed in Mont- real for a short time. He had one brother, William, and one sister. Betsey, who came to this country and settled in Canada. About forty-five years ago the brother William went to South America, and is supposed to have died there. The sister Betsey died in Montreal. The mother, whose maiden name was Rosetta Robbins, was born in Copenhagen, Lewis county, New York, September 25, 1830. She and her husband settled on a tract of land in Viola township in 1870, and at first owned 160 acres in sections 2 and 3. Here they made their permanent home and became well to do and prominent citizens. William A. has one sister at home-Miss Emma M. Johnston, who was born in Copenhagen, New York, July 6, 1851. The father, mother, brother and sister constitute the entire household and are comfortable and happy. The orderly manner in which the premises are kept, and the spacious and ele-

Digitized by Google

416 HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

gant home are silent but eloquent reminders of the fine character- istics of these worthy people.

CHARLES M. JOHNSON, resident manager at Rochester for the Western Elevator Company, was born on a farm in Steuben county, Indiana, September 7, 1850, a son of Jesse and Emily (English) Johnson, natives of New York state and Pennsylvania, respectively. Both parents were descended from old Colonial fam- ilies. The father first located in Indiana, but later, in 1854, re- moved with his wife and two children to Fillmore county, Minne- sota, where he bought land and for years engaged in farming. He is still living in the enjoyment of good health with his children, his wife having passed away some years ago. Of the nine children born to them, seven are yet living.

The oldest of these, Charles M., the subject of this review, re- ceived his education and was reared to early manhood in his native county. When eighteen years old he started out in life for himself, renting a farm near Osage, Iowa, and continuing thus for two years. He then farmed on rented land in Fillmore county, Minnesota, but subsequently removed to Watertown, South Dakota, where he secured land from the government, and for two years engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1884 he disposed of his inter- ests there and came to Rochester, where he was employed as grain buyer by Anderson Whiting. He remained thus occupied for two years, and then became connected in a like capacity with S. Whitten & Company. At the death of Mr. Whitten, the concern was pur- chased by Mr. G. Woodworth and Mr. Johnson remained with him for a period of thirteen years. Then the Western Elevator Company bought out Mr. Woodworth's interests and Mr. Johnson has acted as resident manager for this corporation ever since. He buys and sells grain to the extent of many thousands of dollars yearly, and also does an extensive business in coal. He is a mem- ber of the school board, is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Presbyterian church. In the year 1907 he was elected an alderman of the city of Rochester, Minnesota, and served two years. He was re-elected to the same position for two years more, thus serving the city for four years in succession. On July 29, 1877, he was married to Miss Annie, daughter of John Anderson, an early settler and prosperous farmer of Fillmore county, Minne- sota, and to them one son, Alvin E., has been born. Mr. Johnson is a successful and progressive business man and is regarded as one of the public spirited citizens of the county.

ERNEST R. ECKLES, editor and proprietor of the Dover Inde- pendent, is the eldest son of George and Emma G. Eckles. His parents were natives of Wressell, county of York, England, and

Digitized by Google

--- - - -- --

417

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

the state of New York, U. S. A., respectively, the former parent dying at Omaha, Nebraska, April 22, 1908. He came to Minne- sota in October, 1858, and pre-empted a farm on section 24, in the township of Eyota, Olmsted County, where, on May 8, 1865, the subject of this sketch was born, who, with the exception of about three years, has since resided within Olmsted county. In the early seventies his parents moved to the village of Dover, where they resided several years, after which they moved to the village of Eyota, our subject attending the public schools of these two places in the meantime. At the age of nineteen years the boy was apprenticed to W. Dixon & Company, in a tin shop and hardware store at Eyota, where he remained for two years, when he returned to Dover and for about seven years was in the employ of D. D. Kimball, in the hardware and tin business, after which for two years he was in the same occupation for himself in his present loca- tion. In the fall of 1896 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, residing with his parents for about a year and a half. It was during this time that for $27.50 he purchased the first installment of what is now the Independent plant, which includes a gasoline engine, nine column news press, 10x15 jobber, thirty-inch paper cutter, type, cases, etc. He returned to Dover the spring of 1898 and engaged in the job printing business, establishing the Independent January 6, 1905. On July 8, 1903, Mr. Eckles was married to Miss Rosa A. Erlewine, daughter of Jacob and Anna Erlewine, of Cameron, Monroe county, Ohio. They have no children.

DAVID S. LARSON was born in Norway and was the son of Stark and Carrie, who crossed the Atlantic ocean and came to near Madi- son, Wisconsin, where they located on a farm and where the father finally passed away. The mother came to Rock Dell township, this county, and here she resided until she, too, died and was laid to rest in East St. Olaf's cemetery. David S. Larson, their son, was put to work at an early age on his father's farm and in his boy- hood was given a fair education at the district schools. In June, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia B. Nordhem, who was a native of Norway, and the descendant of an old and promi- nent family of that country. The marriage was solemnized in the city of Chicago. Immediately after the marriage they came to Rock Dell township and bought a tract of eighty acres in Section 16, to which another eighty acres were added after a number of years. At the time of his death Mr. Larson owned a total of 178 acres of excellent land, all well improved with good buildings and under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Larson was a hardworking man, a good neighbor, a kind husband and indulgent father, and the county was benefited by his presence and high character. He was a Republican and at all elections worked for the best interests

Digitized by Google

418 HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

of his party. He was a member of East St. Olaf's Church, where he regularly attended services. His death, which occurred August 23, 1907, was regarded as a serious loss to the community. He lies buried in St. Olaf's cemetery. His children were as follows: Carrie B., born August 3, 1876, married Henry Nelson, a farmer of North Dakota; she is the mother of three children; Bennett E., born December 31, 1877, a farmer of North Dakota; Isabel S., born October 21, 1880, married Ole Moe, a farmer of this town- ship; she is the mother of four children; Stark L., born February 3, 1883, a farmer of North Dakota; Dina J., born October 28, 1885, still with her mother. This family is one of the best in the county for industry, good conduct and intelligence.

HON. DANIEL A. MORRISON, one of the old and highly respected citizens of Olmsted county, and who has been prominent in state and local political affairs, was born in Franklyn, Venango county, Pennsylvania November 8. 1842, a son of Ananias and Mary (Gaston) Morrison. His maternal grandfather, John Gaston, died from the effects of wounds received in the second war with Eng- land. Both parents were natives of Pennsylvania and resided in that state until 1846, when they removed to Elmira, New York. After a seven years' residence there they emigrated west and settled at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and there Daniel A. Morrison was educated in the public schools. When his schooling was com- pleted he took up the study of the printing business in the office of the Commonwealth, and subsequently, in 1859-60, published the Journal, at Markesan, Green Lake county, Wisconsin, it being the first enterprise of that nature in the town. Mr. Morrison was then but eighteen years of age. When civil law was declared between the North and South he enlisted for the preservation of the union. at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in the Thirty-second Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, commanded by Col. James H. Howe, and his first service was provost duty at Memphis, Tennessee. When General Grant endeavored to reach the rear of Vicksburg, the Thirty-second joined his command and accompanied him as far as Oxford, Mis- sissippi. where they were delayed three weeks owing to bad roads. Because of the condition of the roads Mr. Morrison was forced to return to Memphis, then went to Vicksburg by boat, and after the siege of that place participated in the destruction of the railroad from Vicksburg to Meridian, about 200 miles to the rear of Vicks- burg. Subsequently he joined General Sherman's command at Chattanooga and took part in the stirring campaigns of the march from Atlanta to the sea. He then accompanied Sherman to Rich- mond and took part in the battle of Bentonville, and after General Johnson's surrender proceeded to Washington by way of Rich- mond and took part in the grand review. At the conclusion of the

Digitized by Google

419

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

war he located at Rochester, Minnesota, and engaged in the mer- cantile business, his geniality, business tact and executive ability insuring success from the start. He was soon called upon to par- ticipate in the administration of local public affairs, and in 1875- 6-7 served as mayor of the city. In 1878 he was elected to the state senate and while a member of that body served on the fol- lowing important committees : Hospital for the insane, state library and engrossing, and internal improvements, being chairman of the last named. He introduced and had carried the bill locating the second insane hospital at Rochester, and during his temporary occu- pancy of the lieutenant-governor's chair, at which time he presided over the senate, the famous deadlock over the high license bill was broken and Senator Morrison gained fame and distinction as a presiding officer. In 1878 he was reelected to the state senate. For over forty years Mr. Morrison has resided in Rochester, and during that time few have been more actively and prominently connected with her varied interests. His long and creditable career in the state senate contributed in no small degree to the prominence Rochester and this part of the state has maintained, and the honors conferred on the soldier-statesman have been most worthily be- stowed. In politics Senator Morrison is and always has been a staunch Republican, and socially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being at one time grand master of the state of the latter organization. In July, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah M., daughter of Edwin Beeton, of Wisconsin, and to them have been born Luella, now Mrs. H. C. Steadman, of Rochester; Arthur L., of Butte, Mon- tana; Minnie, now Mrs. E. C. Clark, of Minneapolis, and Edwin, deceased in infancy. After retiring from the senate Mr. Morrison was elected to and served several terms in the city council, and now is president of the utility board controlling the electric plants. He is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him, and his efforts in the interests of home and country will long be re- membered.

ALFRED P. STEARNS, for years one of the widely known men of Olmsted county and southeastern Minnesota, now living a retired life in St. Charles, was born January 9, 1830, in Grafton, New Hampshire, son of Henry and Louisa Stearns, of English descent, his grandfather being the progenitor of the family in the United States. He attended the district schools of his native locality until twelve years old, when his parents moved to Bradford, Vermont, where he finished his schooling at the age of sixteen years. About this time he secured employment in railroad work and for many years was thus engaged in different localities and in various posi- tions. At the time of building of the old Transit railroad in Min-

Digitized by Google

420

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

nesota, west of Winona, Mr. Stearns secured a contract in its com- pletion in Olmsted county and was afterwards identified with it in the capacity of roadmaster when the name of the road was changed. He was engaged in railroad work for over thirty years. On December 2, 1854, at Hamilton, Canada, he married Eliza, a daughter of Francis and Louisa Monty, and in 1856 he moved to Olmsted county, Minnesota, with his wife's family, and settled on a slightly improved farm on Section 24, Dover township, near St. Charles. At this period the country was in a primitive condition and the settlers were few and far between. In 1868 Mr. Stearns sold this property, but in 1872 bought 587 acres, then practically in a wild state, half prairie and half timber land. This he cleared, improved and brought to a high condition of cultivation and on which he resided until 1906, when he sold out and moved to St. Charles, which has since been his home. In many ways Mr. Stearns became one of the leading men of his locality. He is a Democrat. was twice elected county commissioner, and for about twelve years was town supervisor. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Order of the Temple, being a member of Home Commandery, at Rochester, and he is a stockholder and director of the Citizens' State Bank. The old pioneer, Francis Monty, or Frank Monty, as he was more generally known, died in St. Charles January 16, 1906, aged ninety-three years, preceded by his wife in July, 1872, at the age of fifty-five years. To Mr. and Mrs. Stearns three children have been born: Frank H., a graduate of the Business College, at Minneapolis, and now a con- ductor on the Great Western railroad; Louisa, who married Verne Tooke, a locomotive engineer on the Burlington railroad, and now residing in Dubuque, Iowa, and May, the wife of A. C. Kaufmann, a bookkeeper. Mr. Stearns is one of the best known men of this locality. His life has been one of activity and usefulness and his declining years are being passed among his many friends and neigh- bors, who esteem him for his exemplary life and character.

EDWARD L. KALB, for years a well known veterinary surgeon at Rochester, was born November 13, 1872, in this city, a son of Henry and Frederica (Roediger ) Kalb, natives of Germany, and of whom appropriate mention is made elsewhere in this publication. Edward L. Kalb was educated in the Rochester public schools and his first employment was in the drug establishment of his brother, Henry E. Kalb, who had previously learned that business under Mr. Gustave Hargesheimer, of Rochester. There Edward remained until his brother's death in 1891. He had always been passion- ately fond of horses, and finally decided that he would be most successful in the field of veterinary surgery. Accordingly, at Toronto, he entered the Ontario Veterinary College, province of

Digitized by Google

421

HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY

Ontario, Canada, and was duly graduated therefrom with honors in the class of 1893. October 12, same year, he was passed by the Minnesota state board of veterinary medical examiners, and also took an advanced post graduate course under the private instruc- tion of Prof. Mole, M. R. C. V. S., of Toronto. Immediately there- after he returned to Rochester and began the active practice of his profession. He has been more than ordinarily successful, and, through a natural aptitude and liking for the work, has acquired a large and lucrative practice. He was made a member of the Ameri- can Veterinary Association in 1904. In 1905 the doctor was elected to the city council as alderman from the second ward, and has always taken a keen interest in the administration of public affairs. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Redmen and the Elks fraternity. On January 5, 1898, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Knusel, daugh- ter of John Knusel, a deceased pioneer of Salem township, and to them have been born these children: Bruce Munro, Henry M., Jr., and Ethel Frederica.

NELS GOLBERG is the son of Tollef and Carrie, and was born in Rock Dell township July 8, 1860 (see elsewhere sketch of the parents). Nels grew up on his father's farm in this county and in youth was given a fair education at the district schools. On June 29, 1888, he wedded Miss Julie Larson, daughter of Iver and Ingeborg, pioneer settlers of Rock Dell township. To this marriage were born the following children : Theodore, born May 1, 1889, was given a good education, is a graduate of a commercial college at Aus- tin, Minnesota ; Ida, born November 22, 1891, has a good education, holds a teachers' certificate from the normal school at Austin; Inez, born April 3, 1895; Norman, born May 29, 1897; Elmer, born Sep- tember 17, 1901. On March 8, 1904, this family suffered the irrepar- able misfortune of losing the wife and mother, who passed away to the intense grief of her family and was laid to rest in Zion cemetery. All missed her loving care and attention after she had been laid in the grave. It was some time before they could adjust surround- ings to meet her absence. But time, which assuages all sorrows, has quieted their grief in a measure. The farm now consists of 135 acres in Section II and is under a high state of tilth and is im- proved with good and substantial buildings. Mr. Golberg is a pro- gressive and up-to-date farmer. He is a member of the United Lutheran Church, of which at present he is secretary and treasurer. He holds stock in the Zumbro Creamery Company, in the Farmers' Elevator Company and in the Farmers' Telephone Company. The family are in comfortable circumstances and have the high regard of their neighbors.

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 44

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

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