USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 4
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
"There's not a thing at man's command, Not even greenbacks, cash in hand, Is really real-estate, but land. Other wrecked crafts may strew the strand ; The tiller of the soil will stand Peerless; and none with failure brand The honest hauler of the sand.
"But Mr. Wright did not write simply nonsense, far from it. Some of his best renditions were upon election reforms and university rules, of which latter theory he was one of the principal advocates and put the
39
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
elements of the cause into such pungent and impressive English that they attracted attention widely ; were commented upon and quoted by the metro- politan press, and provoked general discussion.
"Very many people in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota will treasure memories of the man and none more than those who possessed his intimate friendship and acquaintance."
HON. HENRY G. PAGE.
The late Henry G. Page, who for forty years was one of the most respected and prominent citizens of Fergus Falls, was a native of Sand- wich, New Hampshire, born on March 9. 1832.
The Pages were an old family in New Hampshire, Henry G. Page's grandfather, David C. Page, having resided there and his great-grand- father, Joseph Page, also was born in that state. In 1855 Hon. George Page, the father of Henry G. Page, after serving in the New Hampshire Legislature and being otherwise honored in his own state, decided to join the Western movement and come West with his family. He settled in Car- roll county, Illinois. There were but two children in the family and Henry G. Page's only sister died while quite young. Mr. Page's mother died in 1865 and his father in 1867, and he practically was without relatives all the later years of his life, there being no kinsfolk nearer than a cousin.
Before coming West, Henry E. Page attended an academy in his native county and the Northfield Seminary, in Merrimac county, New Hampshire, after which he returned to the farm. Notwithstanding all his other lines of business, he always loved farming and stock raising and found much pleasure in it. In 1867 Mr. Page married Alice Humphrey, who was born in Lewis county, New York, the daughter of Horace and Joanna (Stiles) Humphreys, the former of whom was a merchant and farmer. There were four children in the Humphrey family, three of whom are still living, Mrs. Page, Mrs. Emilo Hagey, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and C. H. Humphrey, of Fenton, Iowa.
To Henry E. and Alice (Humphrey ) Page was born one son, Henry G., who is living in Pelican Rapids, this county, where he is engaged in the real-estate business. He married Ruth Kinney and they have three chil- dren, Henry George, Marian and Rebecca.
In 1867, the elder Henry G. Page engaged in the banking business at Lanark, Illinois, with his brother-in-law, Mr. VanVechten, and dealt more or less in live stock. In 1870, his health failing, he went to Minneapolis, seeking the benefit of the Minnesota climate, expecting to return in the fall of the year; but he gained so much in Minnesota that he decided to
40
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
remain. He became interested in this section of the state through George B. Wright and in 1870 personally investigated the region about Fergus Falls. He arrived at the river just as Mr. Buse was finishing the pontoon bridge at Union avenue, in "the coming city of the Northwest," and he was the first to drive across that causeway.
There was practically nothing here at that time even to mark an out- post of civilization, but he bought more or less land in this section, including the farm where the electric light dam at Fergus Falls is now located. In 1872 he personally located in Fergus Falls and organized the First National Bank, James Compton being cashier, while Mr. Page was the president He was a man full of energy and he at once set about doing other things. He bought the power, now known as the Red river mill-power, of Wright and Mendenhall and, with R. H. Scott, built the first flour-mill in Fergus Falls. Later on Mr. Scott retired and, through James J. Hill, who was building the railroad through here, Andrew G. Todd became interested in the milling business with Mr. Page. Then began that period of Scottish activity which caused Fergus Falls to move at a rapid pace. culminating in the building of the Grand hotel and the big boom of 1882 and 1883. The ideas of his associates were a little too rapid for Mr. Page and he sold out his interest in that mill and built the mill known as the Big A or Cable mill, because it was run by cable power, which was the common method of power distribution in the early days of Fergus Falls. The Red river mill failed, but the Cable mill proved a big success under Mr. Page's careful management. At that time it was thought Fergus Falls would be a second Minneapolis and become a great milling center, as it had both the power and the wheat. Mr. Page was full of energy and enthusiasm for the city and he joined heartily in the movement to build it up. In 1882 he started to build the dam which is now owned by the city, preparatory to buikling a big mill. It was this step which resulted in wiping out his entire fortune and ended so disastrously to all concerned.
Mr. Page said. in his quiet way, that he was worth at least one hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars when he started on this enterprise. Ile had the choicest investments around here. He controlled the Cable mill. he was interested in the First National Bank, and had bought control of and became president of the Fergus Falls National Bank, he owned the Schacht corner and had fifteen hundred acres of land near the city, besides a large amount of other property. The dam cost far more than its pro- moters expected. The mill with a capacity of six hundred barrels and the elevator and the rest of the plant ran above the estimated cost of construc- tion. From the very outset the mill had a series of disastrous years. Only one year that the big mill was operated, by the Page Milling Company did
41
OTTER TAIL, COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
it show a profit, as it was impossible to get much wheat from farmers, on account of the location, the grain having to be ground in transit and switched from the Great Northern. The Northern Pacific had not extended very fai West at that time. The river went down and there was a series of years with low water, during which the proprietors were forced to run the mill by steam. The final blow came on a wheat market very similar to that of 1909. Wheat was very high. Buyers of flour held off waiting for a new crop. The mill kept grinding and sending its flour to commission mer- chants, hoping for a sale; only to have the market slump. More than fifty thousand dollars was lost on the season's milling ; it was impossible to hold out longer and an assignment was made to C. D. Wright. These years of adversity in connection with the big mill brought out all of Mr. Page's force of character very plainly. There was never any bluster about him, but there was a quiet determination which few men possessed. Fully determined not to let the mill fail, he hung to it with a bull-dog tenacity. To maintain his credit and meet his obligations, he mortgaged everything, even to the part of the homestead, where the casket factory now stands. Following the assignment, in 1890, came the hard times of the years preceding the panic of 1893 and the choice properties which he had, and which would have helped to pay the obligations, brought practically nothing, compared to what they had previously been considered worth. He lost the bank, the A mill, his farms, his horses, his fancy cattle; in short, everything was swept away and in those hard times, they brought almost nothing to pay the debts. In the midst of his financial troubles he was severely injured in a runaway accident, but left his bed long before he ought to have done so, in order to help straighten out his affairs. While still in the hands of the assignee, the big mill, together with the elevator, was destroyed by fire. As there was but little insurance, this calamity completed the disaster, and the valuable power and dam were sold to the city for almost nothing. Mr. Page never fully recovered from the blow resulting from his failure. Though he did all in his power to help those who had lost through his failure, to recover what they could, he never got started again himself.
Henry G. Page was not only prominent in business, but he took an active part in politics and public affairs. In 1874 he was elected state senator from this district in one of the most memorable campaigns ever carried on here. At that time this senatorial district included all the territory between here and Manitoba and some to the sonth. The Republican organization, which was largely controlled by Hon. E. E. Corliss, nominated Mr. Jorgens, who was county auditor. The opposition was based upon a reform move- ment, called, as is usually the case in these latter days, the anti-monopoly party, and was directed by J. W. Mason, J. P. Williams, George B. Wright
42
OTTER TAU COUNTY, MINNESOT.1.
and Mr. Underwood, then editor of the Journal. Such things as were too hot to print in the Journal were put into a sheet called The Languard. Hon. R. L. Frazee, then living in Becker county, was nominated for representa- tive on the ticket with Mr. Page and they were elected. Mr. Page had a good majority, and Mr. Frazee's majority was four, while Soren Listoc. on the opposing ticket, was elected as one of the representatives. The principal issue in those days was to get a railroad for Fergus Falls and Mr. Page's work was largely in helping secure legislation which finally resulted in the buikling of the Fergus Falls division of the St. Paul & Pacific road. Mr. Page was the second mayor of the city of Fergus Falls. serving for two or three terms. He was a member of the board of educa- tion for many years. In 1884 he was named by his party as a delegate to the Republican national convention at Chicago, a convention which finally nominated James G. Blaine for the presidency. Mr. Page was not a politi- cal leader. but he was always so fair and so willing to do the right thing that when factions got into a fight they could always agree on him as a compromise candidate. He always had has own views and even after he had ceased to be a prominent financial and industrial factor, he never failed to get out and help when there was an issue between right and wrong. Gover- nor Johnson placed him on an important commission to represent Minne- sota.
Henry G. Page was a great lover of horses and the first twenty years he was a resident of Otter Tail county, he raised and sold many fine driving horses, although never favoring racing. Driving and training his horses was his favorite recreation and he always had a stable full of the most spirited colts in the locality. It was largely this out-of-door life which enabled him to maintain his health while carrying on his large business affairs. Ile was one of the first to raise pure-bred cattle and he did much to stimulate the raising of good horses and cattle in this section. Next to having his friends lose through his failure, his greatest grief was to have to give up his stable horses.
Mr. Page was a typical New Englander. He was quiet and unostenta- tions and always attended strictly to his own business. During the forty years he lived here, no one ever heard of his precipitating or being involved in any trouble. He was very retiring and reticent and, while friendly with all, he never had any confidential friends. He always kept his own counsels. While not called a religious man, no one ever lived a more moral or teni- perate life. No better citizen ever lived or died in Fergus Falls. While common consent gives the late George B. Wright first place as builder of the city, Henry G. Page was a good second and, had not a seemingly unavoidable disaster come upon him in the very midday of his activities, he might have
43
OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
been first. In any event, he lived a good life and Fergus Falls will be for- tunate, if, in the future, any of its citizens measure up to the standards of Henry G. Page. Mr. Page died on June 20, 1909.
JOHN S. BILLINGS.
It is to the credit of Sheriff John S. Billings that after having served a period of ten years as sheriff of Otter Tail county, he was recalled to that important office in 1909, after a lapse of some eight years, and has efficiently filled the office during this second period of tenure. He is popular among the people of Otter Tail county because he is a very vigilant officer and is possessed of great physical strength and courage. Nevertheless, he is very kind and sociable, and has had a most beneficent influence upon criminals. He has found that many of them have a good side, and many of the criminals who have been under his care attribute their reformation to his counsel and his advice.
Sheriff Billings is a native of Rutland, Vermont, where he was born on March 24, 1852, a son of Leeds and Ann Eliza (Stone) Billings, the former of whom was a farmer and a cattle buyer.
John S. Billings was reared on the home farm in Vermont, and expe- rienced the average routine of the boy born and reared in the country. When he was eighteen years old, he came West to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and for a time worked for his board in Hennepin county. Later he worked on the farm of George B. Wright, who at the time, was engaged in the real- estate business. Mr. Billings remained with Mr. Wright for about a year and then joined George Beardsley, a surveyor, and with him went to Dakota, where they remained two seasons. While in Dakota Mr. Billings purchased two horses and brought them to Fergus Falls. He again entered the employ of Mr. Wright, who had become one of the pioneers of Fergus Falls, and who, in fact, then was the proprietor of the town. He continued in the employ of Mr. Wright until, in partnership with two other men, he pur- chased the lumber yard owned by Mr. Wright. This lumber yard was operated in partnership until Mr. Billings was elected sheriff in 1891.
After filling the sheriff's office most efficiently for a period of ten years, Mr. Billings declined to be a candidate for re-election. After retiring from office he engaged extensively in the live-stock business, in which he had previously been interested for some time in a small way. Altogether. Mr. Billings followed this business for eight years, but in 1909 he was again elected to the office of sheriff of Otter Tail county, and is now serving his fourth term.
On October 11, 1876, John S. Billings was united in marriage to Belle R. Bowman, a native of Wisconsin, a daughter of James and Lerena (Col-
44
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
well ) Bowman, and to this union three children have been born, Leeds, who died in infancy; Jesse T., a farmer living near Fergus Falls, who mar- ried Julia Gosch, and has one child, Sheldon John, and Lerena, who lives at home with her parents.
Sheriff Billings is considered one of the most prominent officers in the state of Minnesota. He is bright, alert, and is widely noted for the wonderful power he exerts over men with whom he is compelled to deal. Fraternally, Mr. Billings is prominent in the Masonic circles of Otter Tail county, and is a member of the Ancient Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and of the Knights Templar. He also is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of Pythias.
HON. HANS T. HILLE.
The late Hans T. Hille, who was prominent in the business life of Fergus Falls, this county, for a quarter of a century, was born on February 28, 1852, in Bergen, Norway, and emigrated with his family to America in 1865, when he was only thirteen years old. After the family had arrived on the Atlantic seaboard, they came West, to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and later settled in Aurdal, Otter Tail county, where the father carried on farming for a number of years.
In 1889 Hans T. Hille located in Fergus Falls and engaged in the farm implement business under the firm name of Bartelson & Hille. His partnership with Mr. Bartelson was dissolved in 1907, at which time he formed a partnership with Oscar Wagner. They erected a brick warehouse on Cascade street. After Mr. Hille's death, his son, Thomas, succeeded to his father's position in the firm and this arrangement still continues, the firm name being Hille & Wagner.
During his lifetime, H. T. Hille served as a member of the city coun- cil for four years and in 1904 was elected to the Legislature, receiving a very heavy vote. His legislative work was highly creditable to him and to his constituents in Otter Tail county. He was also mayor of Fergus Falls for some time and served in this latter capacity with equal credit. He was eminently successful in everything that he undertook, and was recognized as one of Fergus Falls' most progressive and prosperous busi- ness men. He was a power in local financial circles and for some years served as president of the Scandia Bank.
Hans T. Hille married Karen Hallan, who, when six years of age, came to America with her parents, who came West to Kenyon, in Goodhue county, Minnesota, and it was there that Mr. and Mrs. Hille met. To this union eleven children were born, six of whom are still living, namely : Clara,
45
OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
who married C. M. Langeland and has three children, Correne, Morris and Richard; Julia, who married E. L. Grinols; Thomas A., who succeeded to his father's business at the latter's death, received a common school educa- tion and took a commercial course at the Park Region Luther College and the Curtis Business College in Minneapolis; Anna M., who is teaching north of Fergus Falls; Emma, who is teaching school in North Dakota, and Jonas, who is in the employ of Hille & Wagner. During Mr. Hille's latter years he was in poor health, so that the care of his entire business, even before his death, devolved upon his very capable and energetic son, Thomas A. Hille.
The late Hans T. Hille will be long remembered by the people of Fergus Falls and Otter Tail county as an enterprising business man, a most valuable citizen and a most respected and considerate friend and neighbor.
HENRY J. COLLINS.
Among the older residents of Fergus Falls, this county, is the present city clerk of that city, Hon. Henry J. Collins, former auditor of Otter Tail county and well known as a business man and citizen.
Henry J. Collins was born on April 29, 1855, in Christianstad, in the southern part of Sweden, on the Baltic sea, son of John and Nellie ( P'eher- sen ) Collins, the former of whom was a farmer by occupation during his active life and is still living in his native land at the age of eighty-nine years. His good wife died in 1882.
Henry J. Collins attended the University of Lund, in his native land, from 1868 to 1874, inclusive, qualifying as an expert mathematician. He came to America in 1875 and, after a journey West, settled at Red Wing. this state, where, however, he remained only a short time. He then moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, and worked on the farm of C. V. Guy for three years. Afterward he went to Minneapolis, where he met an old friend, who obtained employment for him in the Goodrich mill, where he remained until 1880.
On March 13, 1880, Henry J. Collins purchased a railway ticket for Fergus Falls, this county, and, after paying for the ticket, had just five dollars and twelve cents in his pocket. After arriving at Fergus Falls, Mr. Collins found employment in the saw-mill, where he worked until it closed down. He then entered the employ of O. C. Chase, who kept a general store, and was employed there until the spring of 1889. He then kept books for Mr. Frankovic until 1890, in which year he was appointed deputy county treasurer. a position which he held for four years. So effi- ciently did he discharge the duties of this important office that in 1804 he
46
OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOT.A.
was elected auditor of Otter Tail county for a term of two years, and was re-elected for two more ternis. He is remembered today as one of the most capable auditors Otter Tail county has ever had. In 1889, after the expiration of his long term of service as county auditor, Mr. Collins was engaged in traveling for the Deering Harvester Company, as a collector. In 1900 he began working for the McCormick Company, in the same capac- ity, and was thus employed for some three or four years. In about 1904 he accepted employment as an accountant from Solo Desky, a well-known clothing merchant, and remained with Mr. Desky until November, 1913, when he was elected clerk of Fergus Falls, a position which he still holds.
By his marriage to Mary Gunerius, a native of Christiana, Norway. Mr. Collins has six children, namely : Helma O., the wife of R. R. Paulson. of Henning, Minnesota, who has two sons, Raymond C. and Howard P .: Ruth P., who married S. F. Bogen and has one daughter, Elna R .; George A., who is a grain inspector; Carl T., who is deputy city clerk under his father; Olive H., who is attending the State Normal College at Moorhead, and Roy W., who is attending school.
Without any intention whatever to bestow credit where credit is not due, it may truthfully be said that Mr. Collins is one of the well-thought-of men of Fergus Falls and is known as a good all-around business man and an expert mathematician. Henry J. Collins is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Collins family are members of the United Lutheran church.
LAFAYETTE R. ADLEY.
Lafayette R. Adley, well known in Otter Tail county, as county super- intendent of schools, was born in Maine Prairie township, Stearns county, Minnesota, April 16, 1865, a son of Roswell and Joanna ( Blake) Adley, both of whom were natives of the state of Maine. Roswell Adley and wife were the parents of seven children, three of whom were born in Maine, and four in the state of Minnesota. The family emigrated to Massachu- setts in an early day, and from that state removed to Maine Prairie town- ship, Stearns county, Minnesota, at an early day in the settlement of that section of the state. About 1870 the family came to Otter Tail county, and located in Maine township.
Lafayette R. Adley attended the district schools of Maine township. this county, receiving his elementary education in a building made of rough boards, wainscoted on the inside with rough boards. After finishing a course in the elementary schools he attended the State Normal School at St. Cloud. and was graduated from that institution, elementary course in 1889.
47
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
advanced course, 1898. Later he was graduated from the University of Wisconsin and then took a post-graduate course at the same institution and was thus well prepared for educational work. After finishing his edu- cation he engaged in teaching at Northhome, Minnesota, for eighteen months, and in 1907 was called to Fergus Falls to act as assistant county superin- tendent of the schools, under Miss Knudson. In 1913 Professor Adley was elected superintendent of the county schools, a position which he now holds.
Lafayette R. Adley was married to Elizabeth McClelland, and to this union have been born two daughters, Doris Elizabeth and Abbie. Professor and Mrs. Adley are prominent in the civic and social life of Fergus Falls, and are highly respected throughout the whole community.
PETER AA. ANDERSON.
Well known to the people of Otter Tail county and long prominent in the official life of the county, Peter A. Anderson, the register of deeds at Fergus Falls, Minnesota, is a native of Rice county, where he was born on July 8, 1868, the son of Lars and Johanna ( Peterson ) Anderson, the former of whom was engaged in farming in Rice county, but who late in life removed to Leaf Lake township, this county, where he purchased land and carried on farming until his death, in January, 1912. His widow is now living in Henning, this county.
Peter A. Anderson has served as register of deeds in Otter Tail county for eight years and has been connected with this office for almost twenty-one years, a very striking testimonial of his standing in the community and the high regard bestowed upon him by the people of the county where he lives and where he is best known. Mr. Anderson's early education was obtained in Rice and Otter Tail counties. He attended the Wilmar Seminary, and afterwards taught school in Otter Tail county for two years, after which he became a clerk in the office of the register of deeds, and in 1890 himself was elected to that office. Now, after more than twenty years of con- tinuous service in this office, he is still the genial, capable and efficient public servant who has long been so popular with the people of this county.
By his marriage to Eliza Hanson, a native of Norway, Mr. Anderson has two children, Jennie and Irene, who live at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are prominent in the social life of Fergus Falls. Fraternally, Mr. Anderson is a member of Corner Stone Lodge No. 99, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He also is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks.
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.