History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 20

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110

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Ina Nelson was born in Sweden, May 28, 1844. She was one of a family of twelve children, who, with three other sisters came to America in the year 1870. In 1872 she was married to John Peter Appelgren. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Applegren: Josephine, a teacher; Hilda, who was mar- ried to Mason Evans; Henry, who manages the home farm; Anna, who mar- ried Elmer Schmitt; Iva, who is at home; and one who died in infancy.

Ferdinand F. Schultz, a prominent and progressive farmer of Paynesville township, was born in Brandenburg, Germany, son of Ludwig John and Chris- tina Schultz. Of the children born to this family, Henrietta, now Mrs. Charles Knadel, was the first to come to America. A year later, in June, 1888, the par- ents came, with three more of the children, Ferdinand, Augusta and Wil- helmina. Another son, August, came in 1890, and still another son, Herman, came in 1898. Three more sons, William, Ludwig, Jr., and Carl are still in Germany. Ludwig Schultz, the father, came to Stearns county, and farmed in Zion and Munson townships. He spent his last days with his son, Ferdi- nand F., in Paynesville township. He died in 1912 at the age of eighty-two years and five days. His wife is still living at the age of seventy-nine. Fer-

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

dinand F. worked out as a farm hand in Lake Henry township for several summers. Then he rented a farm in Munson township. Since his marriage he has lived on the Baitinger homestead in section 1, Paynesville township. He has increased the original 200 acres to 260 acres, and is in every way a successful man. He has large crops, owns a good grade of Shorthorn cattle, and takes particular pride in his fine drove of full blooded Poland-China swine. His hobby has been the raising of poultry, and his chicken house is built along the most modern lines. With all of his busy life, Mr. Schultz has found time to take an active interest in religious affairs. He is a trustee of the Zion Evangelical Church, and his services as Sunday school superintendent in that body for the past seven or eight years have been highly valued. Mr. Schultz married Mary Baitinger, daughter of John Baitinger, the sturdy old pioneer who settled in Eden Lake township in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz have four children : Florence, Harvey, Caroline and Malinda.

James Linley Gray, an early settler, was born in Maine, and was reared to farm pursuits. As a youth he also learned the trade of a cooper. In 1867 he brought his family to Minnesota, and located on 160 acres of land which he had purchased from Captain Asa Libby in Brockway, Stearns county. On this place he carried on general farming, and was also extensively engaged in bee culture, few bee keepers in the state at that time exceeding him in the number of colonies kept. About 1880 he disposed of the farm to his sons, Charles H. and Frank W. and moved to St. Cloud, where he died October 11, 1909. Mr. Gray was married October 28, 1857, in Maine, to Ann M. Smart, who died September 29, 1877, leaving two sons, Charles H. and Frank W. Charles H. is a prominent resident of Sartell. Frank W. lives in Superior, Wis. He married Hattie Fletcher, and they have two daughters, Olive and Hattie. James L. Gray was married October 29, 1881, to Randina C. Moren, a native of Norway, and to this union have been born two children, Mary Emma and Herbert L. Mary Emma is dead. Herbert L. is engaged in the electrical business.

Charles H. Gray, a well-known citizen, living in the village of Sartell, was born November 6, 1858, in Dixmont, Penobscot county, Maine, son of James L. and Anna (Smart) Gray. He attended the district school of No. 7, and the Union School in St. Cloud, and spent his boyhood on his father's farm, in Brockway township. In 1880 he and his brother, Frank W., pur- chased the home farm from their father. Two years later, Charles H. pur- chased his brother's interest, and has since been the sole owner. He remained on the farm about thirty years thereafter, becoming one of the most prosperous and progressive men in the township. For twenty years he was clerk of his school district, and also served in other positions of public trust and private responsibility. It was in March, 1913, when he retired and moved to the vil- lage of Sartell, where he has a pleasant home, and just enough land to keep him pleasantly occupied. He has been a successful man, has raised a good fam- ily and is highly respected by all who know him. In 1878, Mr. Gray married Sarah K. Anderson, born January 7, 1861, in Pittsburgh, Penn., daughter of George Anderson. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have had six children : Edith A., Frank H., Robert J., Lillian E., Blanche E. and Eunice I. (deceased). Edith A. mar-

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. SMITTEN

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

ried Samuel Hiscock, and they have five children. Lillian E. married John Haaland, and they have one son, Allen J.

Samuel Cox Johnston was born in Onondaga county, New York, March 23, 1826, and was reared on the farm, receiving such education as the schools of his neighborhood afforded. As a boy he was employed on the Erie canal, and as he grew older he was given charge of a barge operating on that canal and the Hudson river. In 1855 he came to Stearns county and settled on sec- tion 5, Le Sauk township, where he spent the remainder of his life. In August, 1862, he enlisted as sergeant in Company I, Seventh Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, and followed the fortunes of that company against the Indians in the Northwest and against the Confederates in the South. He was discharged at Ft. Snelling, in August, 1865. Upon his return he resumed his labors on his farm. He became one of the leading men of the community and served in such offices as chairman, treasurer and justice of the peace. Mr. Johnston was married in April, 1847, to Fatima M. Hay, who was born in New York State, and there received an academic education. Mr. Johnston died in 1890, his wife having passed away the year previous.

John S. Johnston, a pioneer and leading man of Le Sauk, was born in Jackson, Will county, Illinois, January 25, 1839, son of Smith and Harriet (Palmer) Johnston. He came to Le Sauk in 1855, with his father's half brother, Samuel Cox Johnston, and settled on a piece of land which he secured through the assistance of Joel Bailey, the pioneer. In 1869 he came into pos- session of the property where he now resides. He now owns in all 381 acres, including a large tract in section 5, and a pretty piece of property in Lake Watab in section 8. He has a pleasant home and good outbuildings, and has been very successful in his operations. He is a progressive, deep-thinking man, highly esteemed and respected by his neighbors.

Ralph Winslow Perry, a prosperous merchant of Sartell, was born on the old homestead in section 32, town of Brockway, March 7, 1880, son of John Nelson and Mary Elizabeth (Getchell) Perry, the pioneers. He received a good education in the district schools. For many years he and his brother, Melvin N., operated the old homestead most successfully. In 1913 he sold out to his brother and purchased his present store in Sartell. He carries a full line of cigars confectionery and general merchandise, and does a flourishing business. His affable manners, his square dealing, and his ability as a busi- ness man have won him the esteem and confidence of the entire community. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Sauk Rapids and of the M. W. A. at Rice, in which latter organization he held the office of escort for three years. He is connected with the New York Life Insurance Company, and the Continental Casualty Company. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Perry was married October 13, 1901, to May E. Lambert, of Royalton, Minn., and they are the proud and happy parents of two sons and two daughters. They are: Ina, Lloyd, Grace and Leonard.

George W. Smitten was born in England, descended from an ancient yeo- men family the original rendering of whose name was Smeaton. George W. was but seven years old when his parents brought him to America. The

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father, a stone mason by trade, found it a difficult task to support his large family, and young George W. was "put out" as it was called, with a family named Miller, in New York state. In 1855 he started for Minnesota, and after stopping at various river points, finally reached Sauk Rapids. There he was employed for several years, part of the time as an assistant in the Day House, one of the primitive taverns of the time. Subsequently he secured a farm in St. George township, Nicollet county, this state. Later he exchanged it for a farm in Le Sauk township, this county, where he spent the remainder of his days. They had two children, Abraham L. and George A. Abraham L. lives on the Collins farm in Le Sauk township. George A. died in 1903, leaving a wife and three chlidren, John W., Nellie and Ralph.

Philip Miner Woodward, official reporter for the District Court, Seventh Judicial District, was born at Portland, Oregon, January 1, 1880, son of Charles Henry and Martha Carolina (Officer) Woodward, both of distinguished Colonial ancestry. After attending the Bishop Scott Academy and the pub- lic schools at Portland, Oregon, Philip Miner Woodward graduated from the classical course at Portland Academy, in June, 1896. For a year he was in the office of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, under President E. McNeill. In the fall of 1897 he came to St. Paul, and after studying short- hand, was in the employ of the West Publishing Company for eighteen months. Then, after a short period in a railroad office in Fargo, he took up his pres- ent duties in St. Cloud, November 1, 1899. He has done good service under Judges D. B. Searle, M. D. Taylor and John A. Roeser. On January 1, 1903, Mr. Woodward married Daisy Maude Sartell, granddaughter of Joseph B. Sartell, an early settler in Le Sauk township, from whom the present village of Sartell is named. On her mother's side Mrs. Woodward's grandfather was David Gilman, keeper of the hospitable inn at Watab, in the days of the fam- ous Red River ox carts. Mr. and Mrs. Wodward have seven children: Vir- ginia Louise, born Jannary 1, 1904; Philip Miner, Jr., born May 3, 1905; Mar- tha Carolina, born December 16, 1906; Helen Frances, born August 24, 1908; Harvey Officer, born March 22, 1910; Gail Lucinda, born February 23, 1912; and Marjorie Izatys, born September 5, 1913.

Charles Henry Woodward was born in Seneca Falls, N. Y., June 6, 1854, son of Rev. Charles Woodward, an Episcopal clergyman, and a direct descend- ant of Major Benjamin Woodward, who commanded a division in Cromwell's army at the time the English King, Charles I, was deposed. In 1857 Rev. Charles Woodward moved with his family to Rochester, Minn., where he found- ed the first Episcopal Church, and later on account of ill health retired to a nearby farm. Charles Henry worked on the farm until sixteen years of age when he entered Shattuck Military School, at Faribault, and after completing the course there, he studied law at St. Paul, in the office of Harvey Officer, whose daughter he afterwards married. At the age of twenty-one he was ad- mitted to the Bar of Minnesota, and then removed to Portland, Oregon, where he practiced law from 1875 to 1896, a period of twenty-one years. Since his death, which occurred December 31, 1896, his widow has joined the Episcopal sisterhood, located at Peekskill, N. Y. They had two children, Philip Miner and Ruth. On September 1, 1910, Ruth married Edward A. Macdonald; they

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

now reside in Marquette, Michigan, and have three children, Colin C., Jean, and David.

Harvey Officer, maternal grandfather of Philip Miner Woodward, was born in Natchez, Miss., February 18, 1834, of old German and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. He was admitted to the Bar, and in 1855 located in St. Paul, where he was continuously a resident until his death in 1913. He was reporter of the Supreme Court from 1857 to 1865, and as a captain of artillery served in the closing months of the Civil War. In 1859 Mr. Officer married Louise Gorman, daughter of ex-territorial Governor Willis A. Gorman, who at the outbreak of the Civil War, was the first colonel of the famous First Min- nesota. They had one daughter, Martha Carolina, who was the wife of Charles Henry and mother of Philip Miner Woodward.

John W. Wolter, for many years a respected resident of St. Cloud, was born in Guttenburg, Iowa, December 17, 1855, son of John Wolter, who was born in Baiern, Bavaria, Germany, came to America as a boy, lived for a time in Illinois, and finally located in Guttenburg, Iowa, where he married reared his family, and earned his livelihood as a custom maker of boots and shoes. John W. attended school in his native town, and took college courses in Dubuque, Iowa. In his early life he was engaged in various undertakings. He finally joined with John Lambert in conducting a general store at Rice Station, Minn., where he was made postmaster, and held various town offices. Before there was a church, services of the Catholic faith were held at his home. After a time the partnership between him and Mr. Lambert was dissolved, and Mr. Wolter erected a new store in which he carried on business until 1892. In that year, he came to St. Cloud, bought out Tony Pfeefer, and car- ried on a boot and shoe business until May, 1901, when he opened a real estate and loan office. In the meantime he engaged in the manufacture of bob sleds. He died March 25, 1905. Mr. Walter married Elizabeth M. Berns, born in Clayton county, Iowa, daughter of Henry and Mary (Knufer) Berns, the former of whom was a farmer by occupation, but who served for some years as a soldier and sailor in the service of the Emperor of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Wolter were the parents of nine children: John, Edward, Arthur, Sophia, Philippine, Estella, Amadious, Lucile and Delphine. John is engaged in the real estate and insurance business in St. Cloud. He married Mary Goedker and they have two children, Rene and Loren. Edward married Mary Hollenhorst and they have two children, Marguerite and Zeril. Arthur is dead. Sophia married Edward Lentz, and they have one child, Elizabeth. Philippine and Estella are teachers of vocal music, Philippine in Baker, Montana, and Estella in Woonsocket, S. D.

Charles L. West, engaged in the real estate and loan business in St. Cloud, was born in Kankakee, Ill., January 1, 1879, son of John W. P. and Terressa (Edwards) West. The father was born in England in 1829, learned the print- ers' trade, was one of the founders of the New York Observer, and is now a venerable citizen of Kankakee, Ill. Charles L. was reared on the home farm, and attended the district schools. At the age of nineteen he was filled with a desire to see the world. He came to Little Falls, Minn., for the purpose of taking up land, and then found his way westward to Wellington, Cascade

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Tunnel and Seattle. In the latter city he worked in the lumber camps, as he did at Olequa, Washington. Next he went to Alaska, visiting places of in- terest, and looking about for a location. But finding nothing to his liking, he returned, and went to Arizona, where he lived in Yuma for a time. After making short stays in California and Nebraska, he went to Idaho, and secured employment on the railroad then being constructed from Bonner's Ferry to . Port Hill, the former in Idaho and the latter in British Columbia. Subse- quently he visited his old home in Kankakee, and then went to Iowa, where he rented a farm for two years. On November 23, 1902, he reached Stearns county, and located on a farm in section 22, Fair Haven township. Since 1904 he has been engaged in his present business in St. Cloud. Mr. West is one of the active, progressive young business men of the city, and is serving well his day and generation, his wide experience with humanity in many places being a valuable factor in his success. He belongs to the Elks and the Modern Woodmen. He married Alta McDowell, born in Illinois, the daughter of John McDowell. They have three children: Irene, Mirth and Lloyd.

Frank M. Wright, manufacturer, was born in Middlefield, Ohio, April 14, 1861, son of Dewitte C. and Almira (Newman) Wright; grandson of William Wright, who came from England; and great grandson of William Wright, one of Washington's aids, at the time of the Revolution. Frank M. Wright was reared on the home farm, attended the district schools, and took courses in the Western Reserve Seminary at Farmington, Ohio. After finishing his education, he learned the carpenters' trade. In 1881 he came to St. Cloud and became interested in the building business, working at different times for various contractors, and for a period being employed in building stations for the Minneapolis & Pacific Railway. Then he became a building contractor. Such structures as the Episcopal Church and parsonage, and the Troutman, R. L. Gale, George Reynolds, C. L. Atwood, and other residences, stand to his credit. After a few years of the contracting business, in the year of 1896 he engaged in the manufacture of sashes, doors and inside finishings. For a time horse-power was used, then steam-power and now electricity. From a small beginning the business has grown in importance until it is now a large and prosperous concern, known as the F. M. Wright Sash & Door Factory. It is situated on Seventh avenue, North. Mr. Wright is a member of the city coun- cil and of the school board. He is a director of the Commercial Club. Frank M. Wright was married in 1887, to Julia A., daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Breen) Delaney, and they have two children: Albert D., born September 2, 1888, and Myra, born October 31, 1894. Mr. Delaney, an old soldier, makes his home in St. Cloud. Mrs. Delaney died April 10, 1889. Mrs. Wright, as Julia A. Delaney, was born and reared in St. Cloud, and attended the graded schools and the St. Cloud State Normal School. She had charge of the intermediate schools at Princeton, Minn., three years, and was later employed by R. C. Junk, of St. Cloud. She is interested in her husband's manufacturing busi- ness, and makes a great success of dealing in real estate, being one of St. Cloud's most capable women.

Frederick C. Lindt, superintendent of the Great Northern shops, at Waite

F. C. LINDT

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

Park, was born in Plainview, Wabasha county, Minn., June 12, 1862, son of Henry and Caroline (Knute) Lindt. He lived in several places in southeastern Minnesota, attended country and village schools, and also took a course in Winona. As a young man he worked on farms in Winona county. It was in 1888 that he became interested in railroad work. For a time he was in the rail mill of the Chicago Northwestern at Winona, Minn. After this be became a machinist's helper. Then for a time he was with the Duluth & Iron Range Co. Later he was in the employ of the Minneapolis Trust Co., at Minneapolis. In March, 1890, he entered the employ of the Great Northern. He came to St. Cloud for that company September 11, 1891, was stationary fireman two years, air-brake foreman for a while, and then became assistant car foreman. In August, 1906, he was promoted to his present position, the highest in the shops. He has six hundred men under him and shoulders heavy responsibilities. He is a born leader, and having been promoted from a humble position has a full understanding of the needs and conditions of the men under him. Faithful always to the interests of his company, he at the same time has the esteem of the men in the shops, and has proved an ideal man for the place. In the Masonic order he belongs to the Blue Lodge, the Chapter, the Commandery and the Shrine. He also belongs to the United Workmen and the Commercial Club. On October 25, 1899, Mr. Lindt married Rosa B. Christian, daughter of James and Martha (Lea) Christian.

Henry Lindt, the father of Frederick C. Lindt, married Caroline Knute, and came to this country in 1853. His original name was Lint, but like many of his countrymen, his name became modified after he reached America. For a time he worked as a brewmeister in Milwaukee. In 1855 he located in Plain- view, Wabasha county, this state. In 1870 he moved to St. Charles, in Winona county, this state. In 1887 he again took up life on a farm. He died in 1889. His wife died in 1865.

Joseph E. Wing was born in Vassalboro, Maine, in 1808; his ancestors came from England in 1632 and settled near the place now known as Sand- wich, Mass., on Cape Cod. While in Maine he was engaged in the hotel busi- ness, and afterward in the shoe business. He came west in 1863, bought land in the town of Brockway, this county, on what was then called Winnebago Prairie. He lived there with his sons, James E. and Henry C., and daughter, Alma, for about three years, then came to St. Cloud with his son, James E. He was toll collector at the St. Germain street bridge for many years. He was a member of the Masonic Order, being past master of Vassalboro Lodge, No. 54, of North Vassalboro, Maine, and was tyler of North Star Lodge, No. 23, of St. Cloud, for several years. He died in June, 1889.

James Edwin Wing, son of Joseph E. Wing, was born in Vassalboro, Maine, May 15, 1832. He was married in November, 1855, to Susan E. Carey, who was born at Northport, Maine, October 12, 1835. In June, 1863, he came west with his family, lived with his father in Brockway township, this county, where they operated a large farm for about three years, then moved to St. Cloud. In 1870 he went to Ottertail City, a place in Ottertail county, this state, located on the lake of the same name, and operated a saw mill there in company with R. L. Frazee. About one year later he returned to St. Cloud,

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and with Lewis Clark as a partner, engaged in the flour and feed business. In 1874 he started to sell agricultural implements and deal in grain. In 1885 he disposed of his business to his son, Theodore C. Wing, and Alexander Smart. He was for many years a member of the board of education of St. Cloud. He was a member, and past master of North Star Lodge, No. 23, A. F. & A. M. He died September 20, 1898.

Theodore Carey Wing, engaged in the life insurance business in St. Cloud, was born in Vassalboro, Kennebec county, Maine, September 14, 1858, son of James Edwin and Susan (Carey) Wing. He was brought to this county by his parents in June, 1863. He attended school at Winnebago Prairie, in Brockway township. After moving to St. Cloud he attended the Episcopal Parish School, the private school conducted by the Rev. E. V. Campbell, the Union School, and the first term of the St. Cloud State Normal School, under the first president, Ira Moore. After leaving school he worked for his father and Lewis Clark in their feed store, afterward in the United States Land Office; in 1880 and 1881 was deputy county auditor under Barney Vossberg. He then associated himself with his father in the agricultural im- plement business. In 1885 he, in company with Alexander Smart, bought the business of his father, which they conducted under the firm name of Wing & Smart, until November, 1890, when he disposed of his interests in the busi- ness to Mr. Smart, and engaged in the life insurance business, and continues in that occupation at the present time; having as an associate in the busi- ness, his son, Russell T. He is a member of the Masonic order, being a past master of North Star Lodge, No. 23, of St. Cloud. Mr. Wing married Ara- bella G. Dodge, of Week's Mills, Kennebec county, Maine, on February 17, 1881. Mrs. Wing was a graduate of the St. Cloud State Normal School. They have seven children: Theobel A., Alma J., Edwin P., Helen F., Russell T., Dorothy C. and Marguerite A. Theobel A. was engaged in teaching school for a while, is now the wife of Rev. Thomas R. Alleeson, of Chehalis, Wash. They have a son, Donald; Alma J. is now teaching in the St. Cloud city schools; Helen F. is teaching in the state of Washington; Russell T. is in the life insurance business with his father; Dorothy C. and Marguerite A. are still in school. The mother of this family passed away October 25, 1910. In October, 1912, Mr. Wing married Mrs. Harriet C. McPike, a native of Streator, Ill.

Andrew A. Wright, secretary and treasurer of The Farmers' Loan & In- vestment Co., St. Cloud, was born March 12, 1860, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, son of William and Elizabeth (Harriman) Wright. Being one of thirteen children, he early in life, started out for himself, and found employment in the stone mill of Fish & Sons, in Columbus, Ohio, where he worked for some time. In the interim his family moved to Iowa. Learning of his father's illness, he joined them there. Then he went to Faribault, in this state, and worked for George Tileston, in a flouring mill. In 1889 he came to St. Cloud in the same employ. Since 1899 he has been successfully engaged in the real estate, in- surance and loan business. He is also secretary and manager of the Granite City Tablet Co. Mr. Wright is of that type of a man that is known as a "live wire," and he takes an active interest in the things which have a tendency to upbuild his adopted city and county. In the Masonic order, Mr. Wright is as-

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 20

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 1110

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110