USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 86
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Mary Elizabeth Atwood, president of the Minnesota Federation of Wo- men's Clubs, and an active participant in educational, church, juvenile and suffrage work throughout the state, was born in 1865 in Owatonna, Steele county, this state, daughter of Hon. C. S. and Marietta Elizabeth (Crandall) Crandall. She received a thorough public school education under excellent instructors, and in 1882 was graduated from the literary course of the Pills- bury Academy, in her native city. With this equipment, she entered Cornell University, at Ithaca, New York, where she took special courses in History and Political Science. For a year she taught in the Preston (Minnesota) High School. Then she taught in Owatonna. Subsequently she came to St. Cloud, and was principal of the high school for three years. On her marriage to Clarence L. Atwood, September 17, 1890, she retired from the teacher's desk, but not, however, from an active participation in educational work.
Mrs. Atwood is one of those busy, vital, progressive women, whose lives mean so much to the city in which they are located. Wherever she has found a need, there she has seen her duty. She has given good service on the local educational and library boards. She has been a capable president of the St. Cloud Reading Room Society and of the Sorosis Club. In the summer time, she assists in maintaining a school for the instruction of children along such industrial lines as domestic science and manual training. She has also taken an active interest in the Athletic Club maintained for boys and girls at the Methodist Episcopal Church gymnasium, and she is an active promoter of the supervised play movement. The Unitarian Church has found her a useful member as president of its board of trustees, and in other capacities.
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With all of these activities in St. Cloud, however, she has found time for civic work throughout the state. She has been chairman of State Federation Committees on Education and Civics, and one of the "University Week" pro- gram lecturers on Civies and the Drama League, and in her position as vice- president of the Minnesota State Suffragist Association has also made many public addresses. In her present office as head of the Federated Clubs, a position to which she was clected, September 24, 1913, she is delivering talks before various state organizations and clubs throughout Minnesota, and in addition to this she is prominent as a member of the board of directors of the Minnesota Public Health Association.
Erwin W. Atwood, proprietor of Atwood's Book Store, St. Cloud, was born in Maine Prairie township, Stearns county, July 2, 1868, son of Edwin H. and Augusta (Allen) Atwood. He attended district school, No. 28, in his native township, and then entered the St. Cloud State Normal school, where he took the elementary course in which he was graduated in 1889. For two years he taught in this state. In 1891 he purchased the book and station- ery store of W. C. Montgomery. He carries a well-selected line of books, stationery and office supplies, and has built up such a good trade that he now has one of the best stocks of any store of its kind in this part of the North- west. Mr. Atwood is always to be found at his store, and being of a pleasant and affable disposition he has acquired a large patronage. As one of the substantial business men of the place, he has been an active worker in the upbuilding of the community. He is a director in the Security State Bank of St. Cloud. Mr. Atwood was married November 20, 1909, to Louise A. Berg, of St. Cloud, and their home at 117 Sixth street south is brightened by the presence of a son, Harry E., born August 29, 1910.
Edwin H. Atwood, whose work has preserved the history of a part of Stearns county, was born in Lockport, New York, in 1829, and married Au- gusta Allen, of Gault, Canada, in 1856. He was an early Illinois school teacher. In 1860 he came to Maine Prairie, Stearns county, with his wife and infant son, Clarence L., and purchased a farm on the south shore of Pearl lake. In 1887 he rented this farm and moved to St. Cloud. Shortly afterward, he and his son, Clarence L., engaged in the real estate and mortgage loan business. Edwin H. Atwood died in 1900, and his widow still makes her home in St. Cloud. Mr. Atwood was deeply interested in historical matters, and in 1896 published a book containing the history of Maine Prairie, Fair Haven, Lynden, Eden Lake and Paynesville. Mr. and Mrs. Atwood were the parents of three chil- dren : Harry A., Erwin W. and Clarence L. Harry A. is a practicing physi- cian in Riverside, California. He married Stella Meyers. Erwin W. is en- gaged in the stationery business in St. Cloud. Clarence L. is a leading banker of St. Cloud.
Gustave J. Henneman, dentist, St. Cloud, was born in Black River Falls, Wis., December 19, 1876, son of Rev. John W. and Catherine Elizabeth (Sipple) Henneman. His father was born in Chippewa Falls, Wis., and his mother in Menomonie, Wis., Dr. Henneman obtained his early schooling in Alma, Me- nomonie, and Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. He also went to school in St. Paul
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E. H. ATWOOD
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Park, the Chicago High School and the St. Paul Park College. His profes- sional course was received at the Chicago Dental College, where he graduated in 1902. He located temporarily at Barron and the same year, 1902, came to St. Cloud, where he has built up an enviable practice. Dr. Henneman is a student of his profession and his success is in itself the best tribute to his ability. He is a member of the Masonic Order, the Court of Honor, the Elks, the Commercial Club and the Equitable and Fraternal Union.
David C. Abeles, for many years a leading merchant of St. Cloud, was born in Bohemia, April 19, 1854, son of Joachim and Rose (Baum) Abeles. He came to America in 1870, and worked for a time as a traveling salesman for his uncle, David Abeles, making his headquarters at Rochester, N. Y. He worked for S. B. Abeles in a clothing store in Penn Yan, N. Y., five years. Then he engaged in the dry goods business on his own account in the same city for four years. After coming west, he located at Duluth for two years as a partner in the firm of I. Freimuth & Co. In 1868 he came to St. Cloud, where he and his brother, Herman, established a clothing store under the firm name of Abeles Brothers. In 1906 the partnership was dissolved, and David C. Abeles continued in business alone until the spring of 1914, when he sold his stock to the Minneapolis Store System Company. Later he became associated with S. M. Graceman and they were to conduct a ready-to-wear department, millinery and boy's clothing business in the block where he had been engaged in business over a quarter of a century. He was stricken with apoplexy Au- gust 16, 1914, and died suddenly. Mr. Abeles was married in Chicago, Febru- ary 6, 1895, to Anna Guthmann, and their union was blessed with two chil- dren, Ruth May and Jerome G. At the time of his death, the "Journal-Press" said in its news columns: "The news of the death of Mr. Abeles will be received with sincere and deep regret by all the citizens and in his loss St. Cloud loses one of its foremost boosters. "Dave," as he was familiarly known among the business men of the city, was ever ready to help any cause that helped in the upbuilding of the city. He no doubt has headed more sub- scription lists for different enterprises than any other man in the city during his residence and it generally fell upon his shoulders to go out and collect the money. The locating of the Gordon & Ferguson branch factory here was through his efforts and he aided in the locating of several other industries. He was popular among his associates and was known by nearly every man, woman and child in this section."
In its editorial columns the same paper said : "For more than a quarter of a century David C. Abeles has been one of the leading business men of the city, and none took a more active part in working for the growth and pros- perity of the city than did he. He spent his time and his money freely for the things that would aid the growth and well being of St. Cloud. He was known as a good booster, in the best sense of that term. He was a friend to the city and his loss will be sincerely mourned. Personally, he was one of the most genial of men, and there is added pathos in his sudden summons, as he was about to engage in a new enterprise, and had only a few days ago com- pleted arrangements. Mr. Abeles and his family were prominent socially and a large circle of warm friends will extend to his bereaved wife, daughter and
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son their most sincere sympathy. Mr. Abeles was a Mason and an Elk, and a member of the Commercial Club.
Thomas Childs Alden. The sturdy New Englanders, descended from those Puritans who had pressed their way westward across the ocean, soon began in turn to find their way westward across the land, first into New York state then into Ohio, then into Indiana and Illinois, and still later up the Mississippi to the great Northwest. A few of them, like the later comers from Europe, had nothing but their health, their strength and their willingness as the foun- dations of their fortunes. But most of them, with Yankee shrewdness, had provided themselves with capital before coming here, and were thus enabled in many ways to help their less fortunate neighbors, and to establish the beg- ginnings of the financial system which has resulted in Minnesota's present banking integrity and progress. Among the latter was the subject of this sketch who for many years was a leader of his fellow men in Stearns county.
Thomas Childs Alden was born in Hartford, Conn., November 1, 1826, and grew to manhood in the ancestral home. In 1848, urged on by a desire to see the world and to establish his fortune, he embarked on the good ship, "Henry Lee" and went by way of Cape Horn to California, where he engaged in the mercantile business. A trip across the Pacific ocean, was in those days, a long and hazardous venture, but with fortitude and courage, still urged on by his high spirit, he went to China, cruised along the Asiatic coast, and visited the Sandwich Islands. A traveled gentleman who had seen life on many seas, in many climes, and in numerous lands, among diversified races of people, the bronzed wanderer reached New York city in March, 1856, and visited his former home in Connecticut. In the fall of that year, determined to establish himself a home, yet still longing for the outposts of civilization, he came to St. Cloud. His voyages and business ventures in the Pacific had not been fruitless, and he arrived in St. Cloud possessed of considerable means. He engaged in loaning money to those who desired to purchase land at the government price of $1.25 an acre. This was the beginning of a private bank- ing business. But Mr. Alden's trust in human nature, and his desire to help in settling and developing the county, led to his financial loss, and the majority of his loans were never repaid. In 1860 he engaged in the meat business, and ever afterward was an earnest advocate of stock raising as a source of profit in Minnesota. After a few years he purchased a tract of land which is now in the city limits, erected thereon a substantial residence, and became a coun- try gentleman, carrying on farming in a scientific manner. During the Indian scare, Mr. Alden was made second lieutenant in Captain Freeman's "North- ern Rangers," which company went to the relief of Forest City and Ft. Aber- crombie. In 1869, Mr. Alden was elected sheriff of Stearns county, and served until 1872, when he again resumed farming. He retired from active life in 1893 and died in April, 1906. Mr. Alden was made a Mason in St. John's Lodge, No. 4, Hartford, Conn., January 17, 1849. He was the first senior warden of St. Cloud Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., of St. Cloud, both under dispensation and under the charter, and served as worshipful master one term. On January 12, 1861, he became a member of North Star Lodge, No. 23, of St. Cloud.
JAMES A. HARRIS
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Mr. Alden was married in March, 1858, to Amelia S. Talcott, daughter of Horace and Julia (Smith) Talcott, of Glastonbury, Conn., the former of whom was a farmer who took an active part in the affairs of his town and served in the Connecticut Assembly. Mrs. Alden, then Amelia S. Talcott, attended school at Glastonbury, and was then sent to school in Hartford. She finished her education in the Ellington school at Ellington, Conn. In May, 1856, she came west with her brother-in-law, Charles Taylor, who had previously engaged in business in Lower Town, now known as South St. Cloud. She saw the need of educational advantages in this new country, and became the teacher in the first school in South St. Cloud. This school, sup- ported by subscription, was named in honor of Edward Everett, of Boston, who had donated to it 120 volumes and gave other substantial aid.
Mrs. Alden, who furnished the data for this family record, is living in the beautiful home erected by her husband at 524 Seventh avenue south, St. Cloud. Mrs. Alden has the New England spirit of thrift and enterprise, and is deeply interested in everything that tends to the advancement and growth of her adopted city. The family has been connected with St. John's Episco- pal Church since it was organized in 1856.
Mr. and Mrs. Alden were the parents of four children: William H., Horace, May L. and Ann E. William H. married Jessie C. Chaney, now deceased, and has one son, Arthur C., now attending the Union school. Horace married Mabel Kells and they have one child, Lucas. They live at Cottage Grove, Oregon. May L. is the wife of George Urquhart, and they have two children, Kenneth and Kathryn They live in St. Paul. Ann E. is assistant in the library of the St. Cloud Normal school and lives at home.
William H. Alden, engaged in the real estate and loan business in St. Cloud, is a native-born son, having first seen the light of day, December 10, 1858, in the old Alden homestead at 524 Seventh avenue south, where he still resides. Reared on the farm of his parents, Thomas C. and Amelia S. (Talcott) Alden, the pioneers, he owes much of his education to his home training. He attended the public schools, and in 1876 graduated from the St. Cloud State Normal School. He also took courses in the University of Minnesota, and subsequently taught school two years at Paynesville and Hawley. In August, 1880, he was made clerk in the United States land office at St. Cloud, and held this position until the first administration of Grover Cleveland. Then he engaged in the manufacture of tents, awnings and chairs at Sauk Centre. When the concern was transferred to Minneapolis he disposed of his interests, and engaged in the real estate business at Duluth. In 1896 he went to Min- neapolis. Since 1897 he has been engaged in his present line in St. Cloud. For the past eight years he has been justice of the peace. He is a member of the Elks, the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Alden married Jessie C. Chaney, a native of Ottumwa, Iowa. She died June 30, 1908, leaving a son, Arthur C., now attending the Union school at St. Cloud.
James A. Harris, engaged for many years as a stock buyer in St. Cloud, was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia, February 17, 1849, son of Robert and Isabelle (McIver) Harris, the former of whom spent the span of his years in Nova Scotia, where he was a boat-builder and farmer. James A. remained on the
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home farm until he attained his majority, when, in company with his brothers, Robert and Mathew, he came west to Iowa, where he bought land in Fayette county and started farming, and where, also, he made a home for his widowed mother. Mr. Harris lived and farmed in Iowa about twenty-four years, a part of which time he lived in Lyon county. In 1894 he went to South Dakota, where he engaged in farming near Mitchell, in Hanson county. In 1895 he came to St. Cloud, where he engaged in buying and shipping stock until 1914, when he retired. To keep himself occupied he once in a while makes a deal in local real estate.
Mr. Harris has seen considerable public life. While living in Iowa, he served as town clerk and supervisor at various times. In April, 1914, he became a member of the St. Cloud board of education. He has been a Mason for many years. Mr. Harris was married March 7, 1873, to Susan Hogg, and they have three children: Eva, Andrew H. and Letha. Eva is the wife of Harry Burlew. They have five children and live in Alexandria. Andrew H. is married and has one child. He is a druggist in Parker, South Dakota. Letha is cashier for the Northwestern Telephone Company and lives at home with her father.
Julius Adams, cigar manufacturer, and one of the leading fraternity men of St. Cloud, was born October 20, 1867, in the city of Trier, on the Moselle river, Germany, son of Frank and Margaret Adams. Julius learned the trade of cigar making in his native country, and came to America in 1882, finding his way directly to St. Cloud. He was here employed in the cigar making establishment of A. E. Brandt, until he went to St. Paul, early in 1886. After two years in that city he determined to see something of the world, and at the same time look about for an opportunity to better his condition. With this object in view, he made stays of various lengths in Cincinnati, Buffalo and Louisville. After his marriage, he brought his bride to St. Cloud on his wedding trip, and thereupon decided to locate here. Consequently he entered the employ of Marks & Wire, and remained with them until 1895, since which date he has conducted an establishment of his own. He does a large business, manufactures some twenty brands of cigars, markets his product throughout the state of Minnesota, and has several men on the road. He belongs to the Elks, the Eagles, the Modern Woodmen, the United Workmen, the Catholic Foresters, the Independent Foresters, the Sons of Herman, the Maccabees, the Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph's Society, the United Commercial trav- elers, the Commercial Club and the Automobile Club. Mr. Adams married Isabelle Marie Miller and has the following children: Ethel, Ben J., Julius J., Peter, Leo, Ida, Victor, Otto, Julette, Cellestine, Max, Bertha, Frederick George, Claude, Adelaide, and one who died in infancy. Ethel, the oldest daughter, married F. E. Whitinger, and has two children, Hulda Belle, and Bernerd. Mr. Adams was elected secretary of the school board upon the death of Peter E. Kaiser to fill out the unexpired term, and in May, 1914, was re- elected for one year.
Henry C. Ahlers, general agent for the International Harvester Co., at St. Cloud, was born in Red Wing, Minn., July 12, 1863, son of Charles and Caroline (Behrns) Ahlers, the former of whom was born in Germany, came
CARL LETHERT
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to America, lived a while in New York state, came to Illinois and finally found his way to Red Wing. Henry C. received his education in Red Wing, worked in the sash and door department of the C. A. Betcher Lumber Co. three years, engaged in the general mercantile and farm implement business with his father until 1894, was with the McCormick Harvester Co. as traveling agent eight years, then went with the Warden, Buswell, Glessner Co., was in 1903 trans- ferred to the International Harvester Co. of America as assistant manager at Minneapolis, and from there was sent to Mankato as manager. March 1, 1910, he came to St. Cloud and assumed the duties of his present position. Under his care the business has grown, and a large new building has been erected to accommodate the increasing trade. Mr. Ahlers is a member of the Masonie Order at Red Wing, and the Commercial Club at St. Cloud. Mr. Ahlers mar- ried Elizabeth Howe, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and they have two chil- dren, Harriet H. and Allen H.
Carl Lethert, contractor and builder of St. Cloud, was born at Effelsberg, Kreis Reinbach, Cologne, Germany, September 25, 1845, son of John Lethert, an expert carpenter, who was born February 24, 1800, and died July 26, 1878, and of Jannah Katherina Fussel Lethert, his wife, who was born April 24, 1807, and died September 16, 1879. Of the five girls and four boys in the fam- ily there are now living four: Carl, a St. Cloud contractor; Margarette, now known as Sister Mary Augustena in St. Joseph's Convent, at Milwaukee; Engelbert, now known as Brother Ildefons, O. F. M., stationed at San Fran- cisco, California, and Henry, now Rev. P. Ambrose, O. S. B., of St. John's College, Collegeville, this county. Another, Annie, died March 29, 1914, in St. Joseph's Home at St. Cloud. The family came to America in 1857, arriving in New York, March 27, and going immediately to Danville, Montour county, Pennsylvania, where the father pursued his trade as a carpenter and wagon- maker. In 1871, Carl came to Chicago. In 1873 the family located in Fond du Lac, Wis., and Carl soon joined them there. Father and son worked for several years as general carpenters, the son making a specialty of steeple building. After the father's death, the family came to Jordan, Scott county, this state, where the mother died. In 1882, Carl Lethert came to St. Cloud, where he has since been actively engaged in contracting and building, paying particular attention to the erection of steeples. Some of his more important contracts have been as follows: Addition for the Church of the Assumption ; steeple for the Church of Immaculate Conception at New Munich; addition and steeple, Church of St. Michael, at Spring Hill. 1883-Cathedral of the Holy Guardian Angels, at St. Cloud. (Started in July, 1883, and completed in 1884.) 1884- Steeple for the Church of St. Boniface, at Cold Spring; steeple for the Church of St. Mary's, in St. Augusta township; steeple for Church of St. Joseph, at St. Joseph. 1884-85-Building and steeple for the Church of St. Boniface, at Cold Spring. 1885-86-Building and steeple for Church of St. John, at Meire Grove. 1886-87-Building and steeple for Church of St. Martin at St. Martin; also schoolhouse at Cold Spring. 1887-Steeple for church at St. Wendel, 1888-Lutheran Church, Seventh avenue, St. Cloud; and steeple for church at Little Falls. 1889-Building and steeple, Church of Seven Dolors, Albany. 1890-Priest's home at Rice; and the Alberta Church, Gil-
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man, Benton county. He has also built steeples at Freeport, Bemidji, Mayhew Lake and other places. Steeple building is a distinctive business, and requires that the men engaged in it should be gifted with courage, self confidence, and special aptitude for working in precarious positions at unusual heights. Mr. Lethert is one of the most jovial and hospitable inen in St. Cloud, and he and his good wife are both popular and number their friends by the scores. Their home overlooking the Mississippi river was built many years ago. They are members of the Cathedral parish. Mr. Lethert was married November 23, 1882, to Mary Heiland, a native of Le Sueur county, Minnesota, daughter of Frederick and Katherina (Crossman) Heiland. The father was for many years a farmer, but in his latter years operated a brewery at Jordan, Minn. He died October 10, 1881. The mother lives in Jordan, and has reached the age of seventy-three.
Rev. J. Milton Akers was born in Pennsylvania, and was reared on the farm of his father. After attending the common school, he became a teacher for a while, and thus earned the money to pay his way through the seminary at Williamsport, Pennsylvania. At the completion of his course there he was ordained to the Methodist Episcopal ministry. In the spring of 1869, he came to St. Cloud, in search of health. He was accompanied by his wife, and her sister, Emma. He preached at St. Cloud, Paynesville, Sauk Centre, Prince- ton, Byron and Berlin, and finally located at St. Charles, in Winona county. While there he was an earnest worker, and became especially interested in some revival meetings which were being held at Winona. While working in this connection he caught cold, the weakness developed into pneumonia, and he died, after having been in the ministry for twenty-eight years. Rev. Akers was married in 1867, at Latrobe, Penn., by the Rev. H. L. Chapman, to Millie E. Ellis, and this union was blessed with one daughter, Minnie E., who grad- uated from the St. Cloud State Normal School, taught for a while in Duluth, and is now a teacher in the Harrison School at Minneapolis. Millie E. Ellis was born in Lingerneer, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Allen and Nancy (Squire) Ellis. Allen Ellis was left an orphan when very young. Upon growing to manhood he learned the trade of hatter, and opened a business of his own, but was later forced to retire on account of the inven- tion of hat-making machines. He moved his family to Mckeesport, Penn., and died there suddenly of paralysis, in 1868. His wife died in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
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