History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 109

Author: Warner, George E; Foote, Charles M., joint author; Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893. Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota. 1n; Williams, J. Fletcher (John Fletcher), 1834-1895. Outlines of the history of Minnesota
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Minneapolis, North Star Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 684

USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 109

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Oscar Stephenson, a native of Virginia, was born September 12th, 1835, in Southampton county. He was educated in Virginia, at the colleges of Richmond and Charlottesville. At the state university Mr. Stephenson studied law, graduated with the degree of B. L., and was ad- mitted to practice by court of appeals of Virginia and supreme court of the United States, in 1856. The same year he came to Minnesota. In 1859- '60 he was a member of the state legislature, and from 1868 to 1876, was judge of probate of Ram- sey county ; has also been associated with several leading newspapers, as editorial writer. Lilias Blanche Robertson, daughter of Colonel D. A. Robertson, of St. Paul, became his wife, June 29th, 1866. Their children are Oscar, Lilias Car- oline, Julia and William.

Hiram F. Stevens, lawyer, was born Septem- ber 11th, 1852, at St. Albans, Vermont. He was a member of the class of 1872, at the University of Vermont, and in 1874 graduated from the Colum- bia college law school. Mr. Stevens was secretary of the Vermont Bar Association, in 1878-79. He practiced law at St. Albans until 1879, when he removed to St. Paul.

William H. Stevens was born, July 22d, 1843, at Washington, District of Columbia, and lived

in that city until seven years of age, then resided at Shepherdtown, Virginia five years. In 1855, he engaged as cabin boy on a steamboat, and worked in that capacity about two years. From 1857 until the late war, he was driving stage in Virginia. He engaged as servant to Captain E. L. Hubbard, of the Third Wisconsin volunteers, and stayed with the regiment until they were mustered out, in 1864. After spending a few days in Wisconsin, he went to Washington, and enlisted in the First Maryland Colored volunteers. He was present at the massacre at Fort Pillow, where six of his brothers were killed. The seven brothers were members of the same regiment. At the close of the war he returned to Wisconsin ; was at Fond du Lac about six months ; then worked in a hotel at Green Bay two years, and from there went up to the copper regions. He afterward removed to Chicago, where he resided until 1870. Since that date St. Paul has been his home. Mr. Stevens was employed at the Metropolitan hotel nine years, and since then has been janitor in the Moore block. April 2d, 1872, he married Ellen Waters, who died in 1874. Martha Harris, of this city, became his wife, February 1st, 1877.

Dr. J. II. Stewart was born in Columbia county, New York, January 15th, 1829. Grad- uated from the University of New York, in 1851, and until 1855 practiced medicine at Peekskill; in May of that year, he located in St. Paul, and soon became one of the most successful and popular practitioners in the city. In 1859 he was elected state senator, and served on important railroad committees. IIe was commissioned sur- geon of the First Minnesota regiment, in 1861; was captured at Bull Run, July 21st, and held a prisoner at Richmond some time, but was finally exchanged. In 1864, he was elected mayor of St. Paul, and the following year appointed post- master, which office he held five years. In 1869, he was again elected mayor; re-elected in 1871, and again in 1873. But few men of our city are so popular as Dr. Stewart.

R. Stiefel was born in 1832, in Prussia, where he was educated in his native language, and learned the trade of shoe maker. In 1852, he moved to New Orleans; and from there went to Ohio, in 1853; he worked at his trade in Cincin- nati five years. In 1858, he came to this city,

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and started a small shoe shop. In 1862, he en- listed in the Sixth Minnesota Infantry, and served until honorably discharged in 1865. He returned to St. Paul, and by advice of his physicians aban- doned shoe making. In 1856, he embarked in the liquor and restaurant business, which he con- ducted fourteen years. In April, 1881, he leased the basement of the building at the corner of Fourth and Wacouta streets, where he keeps a sample room and restaurant, one of the finest in the city. He married Rosina Heckner, at Cincin- nati, in 1854. She has borne him seven children, four of whom are living; the oldest are daughters, all of them are married.

Adolph Stierle was born October 1st, 1833, at Ruchsen, district of Adelsheim, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany. His parents were George and Elizabeth Stierle; the former was born at Sins- heim, and the latter at Meckesheim. Mr. Stierle learned the druggists business at Hanan, near Frankfort-on-the-Main. In March, 1853, he lo- cated at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he served as drug clerk until 1857; in the summer of that year he established himself in the business. He married in Cincinnati, March 6th, 1869, Elise Seeger, who was born November 12th 1839, at Morcan, Russia. In 1865, he made his first visit to Minnesota, spent the summer at Le Sueur, and in the fall returned to Cincinnati. The next year he passed some time in St. Paul, then went back to Cincinnati, and selling out his business there in 1867, located in this city. From 1868 until 1873 he was engaged in the lumber trade, then returned to the drug business by purchasing the store of G. Stein, at the corner of Rosabel and Seventh streets. In 1875, he moved to his present location, corner of Broadway and Seventh streets. Three children were born to them in Cincinnati, two of whom died in that city, and one in St. Paul. They have now two children who were born in this place.

Carl Herman von Stockenstrom, son of Carl and Josephine von Stockenstrom, was born March 13th, 1853, in Sweden. He went through the Gymnasium at Stockholm, then attended college and the seminary at Rock Island, Illinois; also the State University of Minnesota. IIe located in St. Paul at Woodward avenue, number 12. Mr. Stockenstrom is editor of the Swedish news- paper, " Skaffaren," published in this city ; also

editor-in-chief of the " Minnesota Stats Tidning," published at Minneapolis. ITis marriage with Mary A. Nelson occurred August 2d, 1881.

L. P. Stomquist, contractor and builder, was born in 1849, in Sweden, and began his trade in his native country. In 1866 he came to America and located in Carver county, Minnesota; re- moved to St. Paul in 1870 and worked as journey- man until January, 1880, when he, in company with William Schnittger, began contracting and building. They employ sixteen men. Mr. Stom- quist married in Minneapolis, 1875, Miss Annie C. Peterson. Arida P. and Charles B. are their children.

C. D. Strong was born in Somersetshire, En- gland, June 19th, 1808. In 1819 he went to Mon- treal, Canada, where he served an apprenticeship at the book business; he removed thence to Bos- ton in 1828, where he married and commenced trade for himself. He continued in the various departments of the book business, printing, bind- ing, publishing and selling until he removed to this city in 1859. While in Boston Mr. Strong · was so afflicted with asthma that he became very feeble, and was obliged to give up business, but in the air of Minnesota he found relief and again entered upon active business pursuits by pur- chasing a small hardware store. ITis trade stead- ily increased until now he has the largest house in that line in the North-west, and does a busi- ness of $500,000 per annum.

R. O. Strong, of American parentage, was born October 30th, 1827, in Tompkins county, New York. The family moved to Jackson county, Michigan, in 1835, and in 1844 he left home to take a situation as clerk in a store at Jackson, Michigan. In 1850 he started in business in com- pany with his father at Parma, same state ; re- mained until 1857, then sold and came to St. Paul. Mr. Strong was in the carpet business un- til 1876, since that time he has been chief of the fire department. He married, March 16th, 1852, Helen A. Hollister, who died May 17th, 1860, leaving one child, IIattie M. Maggie S. Gillis, of Portage county, Ohio, became his wife July 24th, 1863. Their children are Fannie L., R. O., and May.

John Stuber, a native of Germany, was born in 1844. When five years of age he came to America with his parents and settled in New

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York, where his father died in 1868. John at- tended school in Utica, New York, until fourteen years old, when he learned the trade of cigar mak- ing in that city, and was employed as journey- man in that business until 1879, when he located at St. Paul, and after working at his trade a short time opened a sample room on Wabasha street. In 1881 he removed to his present place of busi- ness, 37 East Seventh street. During the autumn of 1866 he enlisted in the United States army and served seven months when he was discharged because of disability. He married in New York, in 1878, Miss Nancy Ness.

Robert O. Sweeny was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1831. With his parents he moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where they re- mained until 1836, when he returned with his mother to Philadelphia; his father went to the war with Mexico and there died. Mr. Sweeny is under obligations to the Rev. W. Wurtz for his academical education. At the age of seven- teen he engaged in the wholesale silk house of Abbott, Johns and Company where he remained until twenty-one years old. He came to St. Paul in June, 1852, and was four years a partner with W. S. Potts in the drug business. Mr. Potts then disposed of his interest to T. H. and R. W. De-

lano. Five years latter Mr. Sweeny bought their interest and has since been sole proprietor. His place of business is No. 10 East Third street. He married in Philadelphia, Helen, daughter of the late John S. Benezet. She has borne him two children; one is living, Robert O.

Oliver II. Swerig, a native of Wisconsin, was born October 9th, 1847, in Walworth county. He lived in that state until May, 1874, when he came to this city and became manager of the St. Paul house of Fuller and Johnson, dealers in agricul- tural machinery. Mr. Swerig married Miss An- derson, of this place, June 21st, 1877. They have one son and one daughter.

Joseph Swick was born in Stonington, Connec- ticut, in 1853. When one year old his parents, Joseph and Sophia Swick, moved their family to this city and a few years later went to Minneap- olis, where they still reside. In 1873 Mr. Swick begau the butcher's trade in Minneapolis, in 1874 he moved to this city and has since followed the business here. In May, 1880, he leased the fine brick building at 562 Wabasha street; it is 24x56

feet in size, two stories higli and well provided with all the facilities for a first-class meat mar- ket. Mr. Swick married Amelia Pfitzer, of St. Panl, May 20th, 1880.

F. S. Swisher, a native of Ohio, was born in 1843. Several years previous to coming to St. Paul Mr. Swisher was agent for the Empire Transportation Company, and the through lake interests, with his headquarters in the east. Since 1873 he has been North-western agent for the Blue line, with his office at 121 Third street.

Matthew Taylor was born in Johnston, Scot- land, and while quite young was taken by his parents to Glasgow. In that city he was for a time sent to private school then apprenticed to and taught carpenter's trade. In 1866 came to America and proceeded soon after to St. Paul. For about twelve years he worked for Mr. Sum- mers, contractor and builder, and then in com- pany with Gordon Craig bought Mr. Summer's business. They are now doing extensive con- tracting and building, and are agents for the Reedy elevator. Married in November, 1867, Agnes Stevens, who died in February, 1871, leav- ing an infant daughter, Agnes Forbes.

S. S. Taylor was born March 8th, 1835, in Dan- bury, New Hampshire. Graduated from Dart- mouth college in 1859. In 1866 he came to St. Paul, and after teaching seven years in the pub- lic schools conducted a private institution four years, then began again teaching in the public schools, and is at present so engaged. Mr. Tay- lor is grand-nephew of General Winchester, an aide of General Washington, and who lived to the age of one hundred and three years. Mr. Taylor was married in 1865 to Miss Mary A. Put- nam, granddaughter of James Dowling of Revo- Intionary fame, and grandniece of General Israel Putnam.

Colonel William H. II. Taylor is a grandson of John Taylor, who came from Scotland prior to the American revolution, and settled in Hanover county, Virginia,and son of Thomas Taylor, a mer- chant of Richmond, Virginia, where the subject of this sketch was born on the 28th day of No- vember, 1813. William was educated in Rich- mond academies ; clerked several years in a dry- goods house there, and afterward managed the Black Heath coal mines in Chesterfield county, Virginia. In 1835 he settled in Cincinnati, Ohio;

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two years later he became chief clerk in the clerk's office of Hamilton county, under his uncle, General William Henry Harrison, serving in that capacity until 1841, when General Harrison be- came president, and Mr. Taylor became one of his private secretaries. On the demise of the presi- dent, in 1841, Mr. Taylor was appointed postmas- ter of Cincinnati by President Tyler ; held the office until 1845, when being turned out by Presi- dent Polk, he returned to the old homestead of President Harrison, at North Bend, Ohio, where he farmed until 1858, when the log cabin of 1840 notoriety was reduced to ashes. At the opening of the year just mentioned he entered the office of the clerk of Hamilton county once more, served as deputy until January, 1861, when he was made chief deputy in the sheriff's office of the same county, and there remained only six months, exchanging civil for military duties. In July, 1861, he entered the Union army as colonel of the Fifth Ohio cavalry, and from December, 1862, to August, 1863, by appointment of President Grant, was president of the military commission of West Tennessee. On account of ill health Colonel Taylor resigned his position, his resigna- tion being dated August 11th, 1863. Returning to Ohio we see him once more at the old North Bend farm. In 1866 he was appointed by Presi- dent Johnson postmaster of Cincinnati, but was rejected by the senate on false charges made by Ben. Eggleston-charges of disloyalty to his country. In 1867 Colonel Taylor came to Minneso- ta in pursuit of health, settled on a farm in Brook- lyn, Hennepin county, where he was residing when in 1871, Governor Austin appointed him commis- sioner-at-large for Hennepin county, he holding that office about six months. In August, 1877, he was appointed state librarian by Governor Pillsbury, and still holds the office. Colonel Tay- lor was married on the 22d of June, 1836, to Miss Anna Tuthill Harrison, youngest daughter of President Harrison. They have had twelve chil- dren, and ten of them are still living. All are married except one son, Edward Everett, a far- mer in Minnesota. and two daughters, Bessie Short and Virginia Berkley. Capt. W. H. II. Taylor, Jr., is a farmer in Minnesota; Capt. John T. Taylor, who was on Gen. Sherman's staff in 1861-'63, is a traveling salesman, living in Bloom- ngton, Illinois ; Lucy Singleton is the wife of i

II. Scott IIowell, of Keokuk, Iowa; Anna Cleves is the wife of George II. Comstock, of the same place ; Mary Thornton is the wife of George A. Plummer, of Brooklyn, Minnesota ; Fannie Galt is the wife of Charles F. Hendryx, of Sauk Cen- tre, and Jane Harrison is the wife of Edward J. Davenport, of Minneapolis.

A. V. Teeple, son of the late Captain P. C. Teeple, one of the early settlers of Northern Illi- nois, who settled in Rockford in 1838, married in 1841, and moved to Ontario in 1842, was born in Oxford, Ontario, May 25th, 1843. He was edu- cated at the common school and in September, 1861, at the age of eighteen years he enlisted in the famous Illinois regiment, the Eighth cavalry, which was organized by General John F. Farns- worth. Mr. Teeple was commissioned in 1864 and held various staff offices in 1865, and in the latter year was mustered out of service with his regiment. While in the army he served under McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, and Meade, but was more immediately connected with Stoneman, Pleasanton and Buford. Was also a regular cor- respondent of the Illinois newspapers during the struggle. For six years Mr. Teeple was engaged in compiling and operating a complete system of abstracts of title in Rockford, Illinois. His sys- tem has been improved, copyrighted and intro- duced into all North-western states; these forms are now published by the Pioneer Press Printing Company. Mr. Teeple came to Minnesota and located at Morris, in April, 1872, qualified as county attorney in May following, and was ad- mitted to the bar by Judge McKelvey in the first term of court held in Stevens county. Served in that capacity until October, 1874, when he came to St. Paul where he has since resided. He has compiled a hand-book to the statutes of 1866. For years Mr. Teeple has been an active promoter of co-operative building and loan societies and is at present an officer and director of four. From 1878 to 1880 he edited the Building Association News, a paper then published in this city. Mar- ried in 1867 Miss Carrie M. Walkup, of Illinois.

II. S. Temple was born in Maine, 1823. Until twenty-three years of age he was in the lumber- ing business with his father, then was two years operating for himself. His next venture was in the merchantile line in which he remained until 1856, then came to St. Paul and began auction-

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eering which lias since been his occupation. Un- der Quartermaster Kimball he sold all state prop- erty confiscated during the war, and condemned property of the United States. IIe sold at one time the Temple and Beaupre warehouse full of hard-tack besides other large sales.

Rev. Elisha S. Thomas was born in Rhode Island, March 2d, 1834. Was prepared for col- lege at private school, and graduated in 1858. He then for a time studied theology with Rev. Mr. Littlejohn, of New Haven, Connecticut. In 1859 he taught in the deaf and dumb asylum of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1860 he traveled in Europe, and in 1861 received the degree of master of arts from Yale college. From 1861 to 1864 he was pastor of St. Paul's chapel, of New Haven. In 1865 he was appointed professor of biblical exegesis and Hebrew in Faribault divinity school, and in June was appointed a trustee of the deaf and dumb asylum of Minnesota. In July, 1867, he was made corresponding secretary of the Bishop Seabury Mission at Faribault, and in June following, trustee. In October, 1868, he sailed for Europe, and spent one year in the University of Berlin. In 1870 he was elected rector of St. Mark's church in Minneapolis, and resigned on account of ill health, in 1875, and was appointed secretary of the society for the increase of the ministry, and had his head-quarters in Hartford, Connecticut. July 1st, 1876, he was made pastor of St. Paul's church of this city, and has since held the position. Mr. Thomas was married in Rhode Island, October 2d, 1861, to Miss Georgine M. Brown. They have had four children, two of whom are living.

John D. Thomas, a native of England, was born in London in 1848. Came to America, in 1869, and was in the employ of Pettit and Son, of New York, for five years. Went to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in 1874, and for three years was in the employ of Ingram, Kennedy and Company,and afterward with the Valley Lumber Company, and finally entered the employ of the C. N. Nelson Lumber Company in Stillwater, and when their lumber yards here were established, he came to this city in the capacity of engineer.

Houison Thompson was born in Louisville, Jefferson county, Kentucky, January 21st, 1837. He lived in that city until his removal to St. Paul, August 7th, 1879, and has since been engaged as

book-keeper for the lumber firm of John Martin and Company. During the rebellion, Mr. Thomp- son was in the pay department of the union army. He married in June, 1866, Miss Kate E. West, of Louisville. They have one son, Richard A., and one daughter, Sidney H.

Phillip Thon, a native of Germany, was born in 1825. In 1856, came to America, and after coming to St. Paul, began working on a farm, and then worked for some time in different breweries in the city. The next move he made was the pur- chase in company with H. Schaber, of the St. Paul flouring mill. After conducting that enter- prise about thirty months, he went to work in Hamm's brewery. He next in company with Theodore Hamm, purchased the Brainard mills and is now interested in them. Married in 1863, Miss Margaret B. Deitel. They have had eight children, four of whom are living.

F. A. Thorp, importer and manufacturer of the improved insect powder at No. 128 West Third street, was born in Europe in 1827. Learned the trade of weaving silks and velvets, and in 1850, came to America, staying seven years in Canada. In 1857, he went to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and next to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he was in the whisky trade. In 1869, he went to Minneapo- lis, and in 1871, came to this city and has since resided here. For several years he has been studying his insect and vermin destroyer, working day-time and conducting his investigations at night. In 1877, he succeeded in his object, and now sells it throughout the United States by means of agents. It the meets general approba- tion of all who have used it.

G. H. Tiffany, a native of New York, was born in Norwich in 1855. For some time before he left his eastern home, he was engaged in grocery business. In the spring of 1881, the marvelous growth of the North-west attracted him, and he determined to cast his lot in St. Paul, in which he arrived in January, 1881, and obtained employ- ment in the office of the St. Paul and Duluth railway offices as clerk.

W. S. Timerman, manager of elevators A and B, was born in Utica, New York, in 1830. He received an accademical education and remained on the old homestead until nineteen years of age, then went to New York and engaged in mercan- tile business four years. He next spent four years

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in Georgia, and after passing one year in Chicago, went to Minneiska, Minnesota, and engaged in mercantile business until 1866, then moved to Lake City and engaged in agricultural imple- ment, grain and banking business until 1872. He was one of the originators of the First Nat- ional bank of that city. He then came to St. Paul, and for two years was engaged in dealing in groceries. In 1874, he assumed management of elevator A, and since the erection of B, has had charge of it also. Mr. Timerman was mar- ried at Minneiska, in 1858, to Miss Carrie J. Or- ton, of Forestville, New York. They have four children.

P. W. Tobin, assistant baggage master of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba railway, was born in California in 1857. Came to St. Paul with his parents in 1862, and in 1875 worked on the St. Paul and Duluth road as fireman, and was on that road two years. He then went into the baggage room of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba road, to assist his father who has been baggage master since 1863.

H. W. Topping, secretary and treasurer of the St. Paul Foundry and Manufacturing Company, was born in England, in 1850. Came to America with his parents in infancy, and to St. Paul in 1870. Became a member of the company, and took his present position in 1877. Was married in St. Paul, in 1873, to Miss Ida Mead of this city.

J. F. Tostevin, was born in the Highland of Jersey, February 7th, 1823. At the age of six years he went with his parents to Exeter, Devon- shire, England, where he was educated, and at the age of twenty-one years went to London and engaged in marble business. In 1849, he came to America and located in Buffalo, New York where he was superintendent of large marble works, until August, 1855, when he came to St. Paul, where he has since resided. Soon after his arrival he engaged in marble business, and has been successful, and from a small beginning gradually enlarged, and is now the leading mar- ble dealer in the state and owns the only steam marble works within its boundaries. Mr. Toste- vin was married in London, England, August 19th, 1844, to Miss Sibylla Smallridge, of Exeter. They have had seven children, four of whom, two sons and two daughters, are now living.

One daughter died in Buffalo, New York, and two in this city. Their oldest daughter, who died February 14th, 1869, was the wife of J. C. Morrison, purchasing agent of the St. Paul, Min- neapolis and Manitoba Railway Company.

H. S. Treherne, son of Henry and Harriet C. Treherne, of England, was born in the county of Middlesex, December 12th, 1854. He was educa- ted at Godolphin Foundation school of IIammer- smith, London, and Bruce Castle college of Tot- tenham, London. Sailed for Quebec, June 3d, 1873, and arrived on the 22d of the same month. He settled in Ottawa, and for two years was en- gaged in civil engineering. Came to this city in August, 1878, to take charge of a party of gov- ernment engineers, to examine the source of the St. Croix river for sites for reservoirs to improve the navigation of the Mississippi, and in Novem- ber following he was joined by his wife. Mr. Treherne has since been engaged in various sur- veys by the United States and Canadian govern- ments, and for the various railroads. For the past eighteen months he has been chief draughts- man of the St. Paul and Sioux City, and its suc- cessor, the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha road. Married at Troy, New York, June 22d, 1876, to Miss Catherine T. Mahoney, daughter of the late Michael Mahoney, of Pough- keepsie.

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