History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II, Part 7

Author: Mason, John W. (John Wintermute), 1846- 4n
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 7

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The paternal great-grandfather of Mr. Bayley was a native of Ireland and a farmer by occupation, who immigrated to America and settled in Vermont in an early day. In 1835 the family moved to New York state. The late William M. Bayley was a farmer by occupation and his wife. a native of Vermont, was of Welsh descent, her father having been a clergy- man, who was drowned at sea. William P. Bayley is the fourth child in a family of five children. He was reared on a farm and received his early education in the district schools of New York state. When Mr. Bayley was sixteen years old he entered the high school at Massena, where he was graduated at the age of twenty. In 1878 he moved to Alexandria, Minne- sota, where he was employed for two or three years in the farming imple-

OTTER TAIL, COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

ment business. In 1883 he moved to Fargo, North Dakota, and was there employed by the Walter A. Woods Harvester Company. For several years previously, he had been quietly yet persistently equipping himself for the practice of law. In 1886 he located in Fergus Falls, where he continued in the study of law, being admitted to the bar on March 22, 1888. After his admission to the bar, Mr. Bayley opened a law office in Fergus Falls and engaged in the practice of law, in the real-estate, loan and collection business. He has a large clientage in Otter Tail county and enjoys a large. prosperous and growing business.

On January 31, 1884, William P. Bayley was married to Amanda L. Stearns, a native of New York state, having been born at Louisville, New York. Mrs. Bayley is the daughter of A. C. Stearns, a scion of an old English family. After her graduation from the high school, Mrs. Bayley attended the Lawrenceville Academy and then taught school in the state of New York until the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bayley have one son, Charles S., who was born on June 12, 1885, at Alexandria, Minne- sota.

William P. Bayley is a Democrat in politics and was a member of the city council of Fergus Falls for several years and a delegate to the Kansas City convention, which nominated William J. Bryan for the presidency. In 1900 Mr. Bayley was chairman of the Democratic county central com- mittee of Otter Tail county. He is one of the active and progressive men and citizens of Fergus Falls and is interested in everything which pertains to the development of this great county.

ROBERT HANNAH.

The Co-operative Building Association, while not an institution pecu- liar to America, has served a splendid purpose in the material development of this great country. It has served an especially valuable purpose in the development of the great state of Minnesota and especially Otter Tail com- ty. Among the men who now live in Otter Tail county and who are prom- inent in the administration of building associations is Robert Hannah, of Fergus Falls, a native of Scotland, who, aside from his interests in various building associations, is personally engaged in the farm loan and mortgage business.

Robert Hannah was born at Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1860, and is the son of John and Mary ( Miller ) Hannah, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Hannah's father was a farmer in Scotland. He was reared on the farm and received his education at the Ayr Academy.

In 1882 Robert Hannah immigrated to America. After arriving in this country, he came west to Minneapolis, where he remained for one year.

OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

Subsequently, he became inspector of western farm mortgages for the Globe Investment Company, at Boston. During the period of eight or nine years when he was associated with the Globe Investment Company, Mr. Hannah also had offices in Kansas City, Missouri, and at other places.

On January 2, 1892, Mr. Hannah came to Fergus Falls and engaged in his present business. He not only handles farm mortgages, but he is secretary of the Northwestern Building Association, an incorporation organized in 1904. Moreover, he was secretary of the Otter Tail Building and Loan Association. organized in 1895. These concerns have been instru- mental in building up many towns in Otter Tail county, and, in fact, in the surrounding country, because they have furnished a liberal supply of money on easy terms to men who were interested in the development of this county.

Robert Hannah's wife, before her marriage, was Mary Ely. a native of Northfield, Vermont, and to them has been born one daughter. Louise.

Mr. Hannah is a director of the First National Bank, of Fergus Falls.

GEORGE O. WELCH, M.D.

The state of Minnesota takes great pride in the character of and admin- istration of its public institutions. An important feature of the efficient management of the state institutions of Minnesota consists in the long tenure of its administrative officers, who have proved themselves qualified for the positions they fill. Institutional management in many states has been inefficient merely because capable men have been sacrificed for politics. Fortunately, this is not the case in Minnesota. Dr. George O. Welch, the superintendent of the state hospital at Fergus Falls, was appointed to his present position in 1892. nearly a quarter of a century ago. Having ably discharged the duties of this responsible position, he has since continued in office from year to year regardless of the varying fortunes of politics.

Doctor Welch is a man who was well trained not only for the technical aspects of his office, but for the general aspects as well. He is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Charles W. and Angenora ( Hawes) Welch. Doctor Welch received a common-school education in Boston and was graduated from the historic select school, Chauncy Hall, in Boston. He began his career in the office of the Old Colony Railroad Company and remained with the company for five years, after which he entered the Boston University Medical School to prepare himself for the practice of medicine .. After being graduated from this institution, he occupied a subordinate posi- tion in the state hospital at Westboro, Massachusetts, for five years and then spent one year in Europe in special work pertaining to special features of his profession. In 1892 Doctor Welch was appointed superintendent

OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

of the Minnesota state hospital at Fergus Falls and has held this position continuously ever since. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, hav- ing joined this historic order in South Boston, but, upon coming to Minne- sota, became affiliated with Corner Stone Lodge No. 99.

Dr. George O. Welch was married to Phoebe M. Lyon, the daughter of James W. and Harriett (Crandall) Lyon, and to them has been born one son, Geoffrey W.

OTTO M. HAUGAN, M.D.

Among the very prominent physicians of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and especially of Fergus Falls and vicinity, is Dr. Otto M. Haugan, a native of South Dakota, where he was born on a farm on May 7, 1868.

After having lived in the state of South Dakota until he was fifteen years old, Otto M. Haugan entered the Red Wing Seminary in 1887 and nine years later was graduated from the University of Minnesota with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In the meantime he was elected superintendent of the schools of Otter Tail county and served in this position from 1895 until 1898. In 1902 he was graduated from the medical department of Northwestern University at Evanston, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

Since 1902 Doctor Haugan has been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in Fergus Falls. Here he has built up a large and profitable prac- tice, but he is quite as well known in the public affairs of Otter Tail county as in the medical profession. Doctor Haugan is a member of the American and Minnesota State Medical Associations, and of the Park Region Medi- cal Society.

AXCEL C. BAKER, M.D.

Prominent in the medical profession of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail coun- ty, Minnesota, is Dr. Axcel (. Baker, who is a native of Rochester, Minne- sota, and the son of Ole and Lena (Olson) Baker.

Doctor Baker's father and mother came to America about 1870 and located near Rochester, Minnesota, where the father operated a hardware store for several years. He is now living retired.

Axcel C. Baker obtained his early education at Rochester, Minnesota. Afterward, he attended the University of Minnesota and was graduated from the academic department in 1897. He made a splendid record at the University of Minnesota and one of which he has every reason to be very proud. After finishing the academic work at the University of Minnesota, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, Dr. Baker attended

OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

Northwestern University Medical School, at Chicago, and was graduated from that institution in 1901, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

After spending two years in the Wesley hospital, at Chicago, as an intern, he came to Fergus Falls in 1903 and here engaged in the practice of medicine. During the past twelve years his practice has steadily increased and he now enjoys a large and prosperous patronage.

By Doctor Baker's marriage to Catherine Hudson, the daughter of Thomas C. and Eliza Hudson, there have been born four children, Norman H., Katheryn, Charles E. and Mary.

Doctor Baker is prominent in the Masonic circles of Fergus Falls, being a member of Corner Stone Lodge No. 99. He is also a member of the Park Region Medical Society, the Minnesota State Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

FRANK N. WHITTAKER, D.D.S.

One of the best-known citizens of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and the first college-trained dentist to locate in Fergus Falls, is Dr. Frank N. Whittaker, a native of Minneapolis, where he was born on May 16, 1869. Doctor Whittaker's father, who is still living at Llanerch, a suburb of Philadelphia, was one of two children born to his parents. The other was Charles Whittaker, a veteran of the Civil War, who died in Minneapolis. Doctor Whittaker's mother, who before her marriage was Helen Noble, and who was his father's second wife, came from a distin- guished pioneer family of Minneapolis, her parents having settled on the present site of the Hennepin county court house. Mrs. Helen ( Noble) Whittaker was one of three children born to her parents. She had two brothers, James and John H., the latter of whom was a thirty-third-degree Mason, who died in the city of Minneapolis. Many years ago Doctor Whittaker's father removed from the state of Minnesota to Delaware county, Pennsylvania. After living in Minneapolis for a time he had removed to Minnetonka Lake, near Minneapolis, where for a time he owned a farm. Later he owned a small farm in Virginia, where he lived for a few years and then removed to Delaware county, Pennsylvania, settling at Llanerch, a suburb of Philadelphia, where he now lives retired with his son Robert, a child by his third marriage. Doctor Whittaker's mother died in 1872 and his father later was married to a Miss Jennings, who is now deceased.

Born and reared in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Frank N. Whittaker attended the public schools of Minneapolis and later spent two years in the Minneapolis high school. After the high school course he entered the department of dentistry at the University of Minnesota and was graduated

OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

in the class of 1893. After his graduation Doctor Whittaker removed to Fergus Falls and for eight months was employed in the dental office of Dr. R. H. Phalon. After working for Doctor Phalon for eight months Doctor Whittaker bought his office and began the practice of his profession on his own responsibility on February 1, 1894. Altogether he has practiced den- tistry in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, for a little more than twenty years and during this period has given his time exclusively to his profession, hav- ing built up a large patronage in this county. He is known here not only as a skilful dentist, but as one of the leading citizens of Otter Tail county.

In 1898 Doctor Whittaker was married to Mrs. Jessie Crippen, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Col. O. McFarland, who immigrated to Otter Tail county in 1880 and purchased a farm on the shore of Ten Mile lake, where he lived until his death. Doctor and Mrs. Whittaker have no children.

The Whittakers are members of the Episcopal church of Fergus Falls and Doctor Whittaker is a vestryman in the church. He is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to office. All in all, it may be said that Dr. Frank N. Whittaker is one of those professional men and citizens whom many communities delight to honor. He has worthily discharged his duties as a professional man and a citizen. Not only is he well known throughout Otter Tail county and especially Fergus Falls and vicinity, but is popular wherever known.

JAMES H. BELL.

The firm of Maire & Bell is well known in the business and commercial life of Fergus Falls and is one of the leading hardware companies in this section of the state. The secretary of the firm is James H. Bell, who is a native of New York state.

James H. Bell was born in the town of Dexter, Jefferson county, New York, January 10, 1854, and is the son of William and Betsy (Seeber ) Bell. Mr. Bell's father and mother were born in New York state. His grand- father and his grandmother were natives of Ireland.

James H. Bell was reared on the home farm and obtained his educa- tion in his native town. After growing to manhood he taught school in New York state, but in February, 1881, came west to Fergus Falls and purchased land in Buse township, where he carried on farming until 1894. when he engaged in the hardware business in Fergus Falls in partnership with Mr. Maire.

By Mr. Bell's marriage to Clara J. Wiley, the daughter of Jefferson Wiley, there have been born two children, William J. and Clara L. Mrs. Bell died on October 10, 1912. Of their two children, William J. was

OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

educated in the public schools of Fergus Falls. He attended the Princeton Theological Seminary, at Princeton, New Jersey, and is now a missionary of the Presbyterian church and is stationed at Virginia, Minnesota. Rev- erend Bell was married to Helen Hunt. of St. Paul, Minnesota. Clara L. Bell resides at home with her father.

JOHN P. HAAVE.

One of the oldest merchants in point of continuous business activity in the history of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, is John P. Haave, who was born twenty-five miles east of Trondhjem, Norway, January 14. 1839. the son of Peter and Solo ( Floren ) Haave, the former of whom was a farmer in Norway. Both parents died in Norway.

In 1867 John P. Haave and wife emigrated to America, and after landing on the Atlantic seaboard the family came west, locating in Wana- mingo township, Goodhue county, Minnesota, where John P. Haave farmed for a year. During the remaining three years in which he lived in Goodhue county, he was occupied with various kinds of work. In 1871 he removed to Fergus Falls. Minnesota, where he worked during the summer months in a saw-mill, and in the winter months in a blacksmith shop. This period of his life covered altogether eight years.

In 1884. in company with Olive Haave, Mr. Haave purchased the gro- cery store of John Halbeerg, and this partnership arrangement continued for eight or nine months, when John P. Haave stated to his partner that there was not enough in the business for both of them, that he would with- draw his capital and pay for what groceries his family had used in addition and ask nothing for his services during the period of eight or nine months. Olive Haave declined to agree to this arrangement, but after a few days' deliberation he also offered to withdraw from the concern, which he did. This was in 1884, and since that period John P. Haave has continued in business in Fergus Falls. His first store was located on the present site of the office of the Urgblad. In 1888 Mr. Haave moved to his present location under the Riverside flats.

Not only has John P. Haave been successful in business, but he has also been successful in the political life of the county. He served as county commissioner of Otter Tail county from 1896 to 1900. and has held various municipal and local offices. For many years Mr. Haave has been a trus- tee of the Park Region Lutheran College, and is a devoted and earnest member of the Lutheran church, to the support of which he is a liberal contributor.

Since coming to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Mr. Haave has witnessed

OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

many important changes, not only in the material development of this city and county, but in the personnel of its citizens. Today he ranks as a good man and a good citizen, and is well and favorably known throughout Otter Tail county.

HENRY A. WINTHER.

One of the prosperous commercial concerns of Fergus Falls, Minne- sota, is the John A. A. Winther & Son, dealers in lumber and building material, of which Henry A. Winther is the junior partner.

Henry A. Winther, a native of Cold Spring, Stearns county, Minne- sota, was born on January 12, 1875. He is the son of John A. A. and Eline ( Hanson) Winther, the former of whom was born on June 11, 1836, in Denmark, and who in 1861, when twenty-five years old, immigrated to America, landing in New York city. Subsequently he came west to Minne- apolis, where he followed the cooper's trade for a time. He then removed to Nashville, Tennessee, during the War of the Rebellion and was there obliged to employ Southern sympathizers whether he desired or not. After the war he returned to Denmark on account of the death of his father and remained in his native land for two years. Upon his return to America he settled at Cold Spring, Stearns county, Minnesota, where he took charge of the lumber business owned by Waite, Clarke & McClure. After living at Cold Spring for five years, in March, 1880, Mr. Winther came to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and the following year, in company with B. A. Clarke, engaged in the lumber business. Subsequently, however, he sold out to Mr. Clarke.

In 1883 John .A. A. Winther opened a lumber yard at Elizabeth, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. This yard is still in operation. In 1890 he pur- chased the lumber yard of Edward MeCullough, in Fergus Falls, and this yard is also still in operation and is managed by Henry A. Winther, the junior partner, who became associated in the business in 1899.

Mr. and Mrs. John A. A. Winther were the parents of six children, namely : Henry A., the subject of this sketch; Mary K., who is now Mrs. George W. Savage and who resides in Iowa; August A., who married Annie Hanert ; Bates C., who is engaged with his brother. August .\., in the fruit growing business at Lindsay, California; Arnold S., who is in the mining business in Utah: and William, an electrician of Fresno, California.

Henry A. Winther was married in 1914 to Eva R. Huxmann, of Minneapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Winther have one child, Henry A., Jr., born on September 4. 1915. Mr. Winther's parents make their home in Los Angeles. California, on account of the severity of the Minnesota climate. The California climate agrees with them much better at their time of life.

OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOT.A.

JOHN H. GRASS.

As president of the Grass Clothing Company, of Fergus Falls, Otter l'ail county, Minnesota, John H. Grass is a conspicuous figure in the busi- ness life of Fergus Falls and Otter Tail county. He is the founder of the business which now bears his name and with which for more than thirty- five years he has been connected.

John H. Grass, a native of Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he was born on March 1, 1850, is the son of Anthony and Catherine ( Noblet ) Grass, both of whom were natives of Alsace. then a province of France. Anthony Grass's parents were Joseph and Barbara Grass, who came to America when Anthony was twelve years old. They located in Detroit. Michigan, where the father engaged in manufacturing boots and shoes. Later, however, he sold out the boot and shoe business and engaged in farming in the state of Michigan. He remained on the farm until 1844. when the family removed to Wisconsin, settling at Spring Prairie in Wal- worth county, where he engaged in farming the remainder of his life. Jos- eph Grass, the paternal grandfather of John H .. was one of the progressive men of his time as well as a most skilful and successful farmer. Both he and his wife lived to advanced ages. Joseph Grass died at the age of eighty-six and his wife at the age of eight-one years. They had four chil- dren, of whom Mr. Grass's father, Anthony, was the first born. The other chikIren were Barbara, Abbie and Rosabelle.

Anthony Grass was reared on the home farm in Wisconsin, where he remained until 1860. when he removed to Racine county, Wisconsin, pur- chasing two hundred acres of land. By his marriage to Catherine Noblet, there were born nine children, of whom John H. was the fourth. Nichols, the first born, is deceased. The others were Abbie. Catherine, Annie. Jos- eph, Frank, Julia and Edward.

John H. Grass was educated in the public schools of the state of Wis- consin and at Rochester Academy. He also attended the Burlington high school, but quit school when eighteen years old to engage in the mercantile business at Burlington, Wisconsin, where he worked as a clerk for four years. Afterward he went to Elkhorn, Wisconsin, and managed a store owned by his former employer, Joseph Crane. There he remained for three years, when, in company with B. C. Drake, he purchased a stock of goods and operated a store in partnership with Mr. Drake for a year and one-half. He then sold out to his partner.

In 1879 Mr. Grass came to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and commenced business with Osmer C. Chase. Subsequently Mr. Chase sold out his inter- ost in the mercantile business to a Mr. Grant and in 1884 the firm name Was changed to Grass. Morrison & Grant. This partnership arrangement

OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

continued until 1890, when Mr. Grass and partners split up the store. One took the groceries, one took the dry goods and Mr. Grass took the clothing department. He conducted the business alone until February 15, 1915. when it was incorporated under the name of the Grass Clothing Company. The incorporators were J. H. Grass, Sr., and J. H. Grass, Jr.

In 1876, some three years before coming to Minnesota, John H. Grass was married to Adella Silvernail, of Waukesha county, Wisconsin. Mrs. Grass is the daughter of Peter Silvernail and has borne her husband two sons, Charles F. and John H .. Jr. The former married Christianna Larson and they have two children, Harriett and Alice. They reside in the state of Montana. John H. Grass, Jr., is associated with his father in the Grass Clothing Company.

In addition to the mercantile business which bears his name, John H. Grass is also a most successful farmer. He owns two splendid farms in Orwell township, to which he gives considerable attention. He is especially interested in breeding Guernsey cattle and Percheron horses.

Mr. Grass is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

DAVID M. BROWN.

One of the thriving industries of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is the Fergus Casket Works, of which David M. Brown has been secretary and executive officer since its organization in 1897. Not only has he been prominent in the industrial life of Otter Tail county, but he has likewise been prominent in the civic and political life, having served at one time as mayor of Fergus Falls and as a member of the Fergus Falls council.

David M. Brown is a native of Volney. Oswego county, New York, where he was born on October 6, 1857. He is the son of David L. and Harriet (Harris) Brown, the former of whom during his active career was a successful farmer. He is now living retired in New York state. Mr. Brown's mother passed away in the Empire state in 1900. There were six children in the family, four of whom are still living.

David M. Brown received his early education in Fulton, Oswego coun- ty, New York, and at Mexico Academy. While he was still a lad in his teens and while his education was still incomplete. he took up salesmanship and worked during the evenings and summers and on Saturdays selling fruit trees for a large nursery. Later he taught school during the winter months for several terms.

In 1882 Mr. Brown came to Fergus Falls and with Leonard Ames, of Oswego. New York, and Geo. G. French, of Mexico, New York, together

OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

with Charles J. Wright, of Fergus Falls (the firm name being Ames, French & Company ), three thousand acres of land were acquired, of which fifteen hundred acres was farm land. The farm land was located at French, Carlisle township, and the timber land in the township of Dora, Otter Tail county. This company was organized for the specific purpose of cultivating the land for profit and eventually selling it. The business continued until 1889, when Mr. Brown took up life insurance work, having become at that time assistant manager of the Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany, of New York state. 'After holding this position until 1897 Mr. Brown assisted in the organization of the Fergus Casket Works, and became the secretary and manager of the concern, positions which he still holds. He is one of the chief officers of this concern and has had much to do with its prosperity and growth.

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History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II, Part 7

Author: Mason, John W. (John Wintermute), 1846- 4n Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1156

Author: Mason, John W. (John Wintermute), 1846- 4n
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1156