USA > Minnesota > Illustrated album of biography of Southwestern Minnesota : containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers...:History of Minnesota, embracing an account of early exploration...and a concise history of the Indian outbreak of 1862 > Part 86
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The business career of the subject of our sketch has been of the most successful char- acter, and in all his various financial ventures he has met with continued and merited suc- cess. Receiving an excellent education in practical business life as well as in the schools of his native country, he came to Pipestone well fitted for the financial life which has fallen to his lot. He is a man of energetic and systematic habits and whatever occupies his attention is handled with thor- oughness and dispatch. He has become one of the wealthiest and most substantial citi- zens of Southwestern Minnesota, and enjoys the utmost confidence of those with whom he has business transactions. He takes an active interest in all matters which tend to- ward the development of the city and county. He is a leading member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and in politics is of a conservative turn of mind.
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ILLIAM JACOBSEN is engaged in the loan and real estate business in Luverne, Minnesota. He is one of the best known citizens of the county, having made his location here in an early day, and having been intimately associated with all business developments ever since. He came to Luverne in March, 1873, and engaged in the mercantile business, building a business block on Main street, where he continued in trade for some eight years. His first build- ing was the first east of the old Luverne House, and five years of the time mentioned above were spent in that building. He then built just east of the Security Bank building, and for three years carried on his business there. He then sold out to Messrs. Landen & Nelson. In connection with his mercan- tile business he also engaged somewhat in farming and stock raising, in which lines he has continued ever since. May 2, 1882, he organized the Rock County Bank, of which he was president for some six years. He erected the bank building in 1882, and be- came one of the most important factors in that enterprise. He was one of the organ- izers of the Security Bank and also of the Bank of Valley Springs, Minnesota, of which he was president. He has been iden- tified with the financial interests of some of the most important business institutions of the town and county, and has built up a large fortune for himself as a result of his own energetic labors and business capability.
The place of the nativity of the subject of our sketch is found in Norway, where he was born in 1844. His younger days were spent in school, and he was given a thorough course in an agricultural and business college in his native land. Until he came to America in 1866 he was connected with various farm- ing enterprises in Norway. On coming to America he first located in Allamakee county, Iowa, where he was employed on a farm in the summers and attended school during the
winters for some two years. Then for a time he tauglit school and afterward accepted a position as a clerk in a store at Waukon, Iowa, continuing thereat for some four years. At the end of that period he went to Lan- sing and engaged in the same business for some six months. Removing thence he went to Madison, Wisconsin, and took a course in a business college in that place. From thence he went to Chicago and engaged in clerking for the well-known firm of Field, Leiter & Co., with whom he remained for a few months. Returning to Waukon in the fall, he remained until spring and then came to Rock county, Minnesota, making his location in the village of Luverne.
Mr. Jacobsen was married in 1877 to Miss Milla Erickson, of Luverne, a daughter of Andrew and Maria Erickson. Five children have blessed this union-Effa, William, Leon- ard, Walter and Nora.
The subject of our sketch is a stanchi republican in politics, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has a beautiful home in the northwestern part of the city, fitted with all modern conveniences and surrounded with beautiful shade and ornamental trees. He has a pleasant and agreeable family, and occupies a prominent place in the social cir- cles of the city. Mr. Jacobsen has associated himself with all enterprises which have tended toward the improvement and devel- opment of the financial resources of Luverne and vicinity. As has been already stated he has been closely connected with the organi- zation of several of the local banks, and not only of this village but also of adjoining towns. He has been engaged te a considera- ble extent in putting up business buildings and residences in the city, and has done as much, if not more, than any other man toward making the city what it now is. The growth of Luverne has been rapid and im- portant, and our subject has always proven a willing supporter of all projects which aided
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in this improvement. He is one of the wealthiest and most substantial citizens, and is respected and esteemed by all with whom has to do.
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ON A. D. PERKINS is the popular and efficient judge of the Thirteenth Judicial district of the State of Minnesota. He resides in Windom, Cotton wood county, Minnesota.
Judge Perkins is a native of Erie county, New York, where he was born March 24, 1847. His parents were Horace and Eliza (Horton) Perkins, both of whom were na- tives of Erie county, New York. The sub- ject of our sketch remained with his mother until he was thirteen years of age, up to which time he had attended the district school, and worked on the home farm. For two years after leaving home he engaged in farm work, the first year at $4 per month, and the second at $5.50 per month. During the winters he attended school, working in various families for his board. The third year he entered the employ of a farmer, who compelled him to sleep in an outhouse, where he was so exposed that he took a severe cold, being obliged to return home after one month's service. When he was sufficiently recovered he took a three months' course in penmanship, and then his mother arranged matters so that he could take a course in the Griffith Business Institute, at Springfield, Erie county, New York. He continued in this institution for three years, and then en- gaged in various occupations for himself. He went to the oil region near Oil Creek, Pennsylvania, where he continued some two years. He then returned home with the intention of taking up the study of law, or entering an apprenticeship in a machine shop. He went to a point twenty miles from Buffalo, and not knowing what else to
do, looked over a machine shop in that place, and finally entered the employ of Strickland & Co. Soon after he purchased twenty-five dollars' worth of law books, and started for home, at this time being nineteen years of age. He made an arrangement to work for his step-father (his mother having married Mr. Wood in 1856) one day in the week for his board. The balance of his time was devoted to the study of law. After one year spent in this way he wrote to Mr. Boies, a lawyer of Hamburg, in regard to studying law in his office. The business of this gentleman had been purchased by a Mr. Calkins, and the letter falling into the latter gentleman's hands, our subject some time after made an arrangement with him to study law and work for his board. He re- mained with that gentleman for about two years, during which time he pursued his studies earnestly, and with great diligence. He also taught one term of school. Then, feeling great need of a better education, he returned to Griffeth Institute. In the mean- time he fell into the company of a young man was on his way to the West. An agreement was made between them that if this young man could find a suitable location in the far West our subject was to drop everything and join him. Word was received and Mr. Per- kins came to Alma, Buffalo county, Wiscon- sin, in the spring of 1868. He then opened a law office and became connected with the county newspaper. At the end of six months, not being satisfied with the newspaper in- vestment, he bartered his interest for lumber, and shipped it. He then made an arrange- ment with U. F. Sargeant, an attorney at Plainview, to which place he went and en- gaged in the practice of his profession. His next location was at Madelia, Watonwan county, where he opened a law office and entered the political arena as a candidate for county attorney. He was not suecessful in this move, however, and soon after located
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in Windom. Since March, 1872, he has been a resident of that place. Perhaps no man in the county has proven such a public- spirited citizen as Judge Perkins. He has taken an active interest in public affairs and has rendered valuable assistance in the ad- ministration of the affairs of county govern- ment. The first office to which he was elected was that of county attorney in 1872, at the same time being elected to the office of judge of probate, and holding these offices for a number of years. In 1897 he was elected as a member of the upper house of the State legislature, serving in that capacity for four years. He was a presidential elector in 1884, and cast his ballot for James G. Blaine. He was appointed district judge of the Thir- teenth Judicial district of Minnesota in 1885, and was elected to that office in 1886. His district is composed of six counties -- Cottonwood, Jackson, Nobles, Rock, Murray and Pipestone. In the administration of the judicial affairs of his office Judge Perkins has proven himself a man of rare capabilities and possessed of a mind of remarkable legal acumen. He is a man of large experience and thorough cultivated thought and is well equipped both by natural and acquired en- dowments to fill the important judicial posi- tion which he now holds. In 1881, in part- nership with P. J. Kniss, of Luverne, Judge Perkins founded the Windom Bank, and after three months purchased Mr. Kniss' interest and took in Erick Sevatson. The bank was incorporated as a State institution in May, 1885, with a capital or $40,000. Judge Jerkins is a stanch republican in politics and is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. He has a beautiful residence in the north part of the village of Windom, where he now resides.
Mr. Perkins was married in 1871 to Miss Florence A. Burcher, of Plainview, Minne- sota, daughter of Rodman and Esther (Davidson) Burcher, natives of Wyoming
county, New York. Her parents came West in 1855 and settled near Plainview. Mrs. Perkins is a lady of refinement and is an ex- cellent musician. Judge and Mrs. Perkins have been blessed with four children, three of whom are now living-Eliza A., Trueman A. and Ray B.
HARLES WHITMAN. This gentle- man is perhaps one of the best known citizens of Lincoln county, in which he holds the official position of sheriff. He is an act- ive, public-spirited citizen, and has taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to the local government. He has a host of friends, and has proved one of the most ef- ficient sheriffs Lincoln county has ever had. Mr. Whitman was born in Tompkins county, New York, December 20, 1838, and is the son of Gaylord G. and Mary (Dunham) Whitman, both natives of Wales.
Our subject was reared on a farm and was given the advantages of a good common- school education. He remained with his parents, assisting in work on the home farm until he was twelve years of age, when he started out for himself. For some three years he engaged in various kinds of em- ployment, among them being lumbering and working on a canal in New York State. In the spring of 1856 he came to Minnesota and engaged in work for various farmers in Winona county. On the breaking out of the war he concluded to join the Union army and prove by actual military service his de- votion to his country. In February, 1863, he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Battery, and served until the close to the war. He was with General Sherman at Atlanta and from thence went with General Thomas' corps to Nashville in pursuit of Hood. He participated in a great many hard-fought battles but came through without injury. After his discharge in 1865 he returned to
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Winona county and engaged in farming on land that he had purchased before entering the Union service. He continued his residence in Winona county until March, 1881, when he sold out and came to Lincoln county, where for seven years he was manager of a ranch owned by Weeks & Sanborn. In the fall of 1886 he was elected sheriff of the county by a handsome majority on the republican ticket and was re-elected in the fall of 1888.
Mr. Whitman was married in Fillmore county, Minnesota, November 21, 1878, to Miss Susan E. Wood, a daughter of Robert and Susan (Gates) Wood, the former of En- glish birth and the latter born in Massachu- setts. Miss Wood was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, May 18, 1855, where she lived with her parents until in about 1862, when they removed to Winona county, Minnesota. In Massachusetts her father was engaged in the boot and shoe business, but on coming to Minnesota he located on a farm and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Whitman have been blessed with two children-Madge and Gail.
Sheriff Whitman is one of the strongest official characters in the county. His official acts have all been conducted with caution and yet with dispatch. He is a man of ex- cellent character and is a stanch supporter of the principles of the republican party. By virtue of an honorable military career he holds an influential position in the "Old Abe" Post, No. 39, Grand Army of the Re- public, of Lake Benton. His wife is a mem- ber of the relief corps, "Old Abe" Post, No. 48, of which she is senior vice-president. Mr. Whitman is a member of the Rising Sun Lodge, No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Mason of St. Charles, Minnesota. Since making his location in the county our sub- ject has proven himself a man of excellent business qualifications and has successfully engaged in various business enterprises, ac- cumulating in these different lines consider- able means.
ANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON, who resided in Selma township, Cot- tonwood county, Minnesota, is the son of Andres and Anna Mary Elizabeth (Hansdot- ter) Anderson, both of whom were natives of Denmark. Hans was born in Odense, Denmark, December 3, 1848. The father died when Hans was not quite a year old and our subject lived on the farm with his mother until he was fourteen years old. He then went to herding cattle for various neighbors, and followed that line for one and a half years. Hle then commenced learning the blacksmith's trade and worked at that business for three and a half years, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits for about a year. His next business was to engage in work for a civil engineer in making ditches and drains. Our subject was thus engaged for some three years. After this time he worked in a brick-yard for three years. He was then married and engaged in the iron works at Odense for some four or five years. November 15, 1879, he came to the United States, stopping some six months in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the spring he commenced work on the rail- road and worked some four years during the summers, the winters being spent in work in the woods. Coming to Watonwan county, our subject built a little home in Nelson township, where he lived one year. During this time he was working on the railroad, and after the year had expired, he sold his farm and purchased 160 acres on section 10, in Selma township, where he has since lived. He has a comfortable frame house, has about 110 acres under cultivation and is in good circumstances. Mr. Anderson is a man of excellent principles, is respected and es- teemed by all, and is a member of the Lu- theran church.
Mr. Anderson was married March 25 1875, in Odense, Denmark, to Miss Sophia Grauberg, a daughter of Nels Gust and Liz- zie Grauberg. Mrs. Anderson was born in
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Petiolongas, September 2, 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been blessed with the following-named children-Hannah E., Clara C., Olivia, Nels, Christian, Augustus, Carda A. H., Eda M. and Pete A.
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(HN MCKENZIE is one of the leading and ablest attorneys in Lincoln county, Minnesota. He has a large practice and all legal matters that come to his hands receive the most careful and thorough attention. He was born in Buffalo, New York, Sep- tember 20, 1862.
The subject of our sketch is a son of John and Harriet (Maybe) Mckenzie, the former a native of Canada and the latter born in Michigan. The father lost his life by drown- ing when our subject was about two years old. John was then taken into the family of his grandparents, with whom he lived until he was eighteen or nineteen years of age. While living with them in Sanilac county, Michigan, on a farm, he attended the district school until he was twelve years of age. At this age he was sent to an acad- emy at Port Sanilac, where he continued his studies six or seven years and then grad- uated from that institution. Coming west- ward he located in Yellow Medicine county, Minnesota, where he taught school for about a year, after which he attended Carleton College at Northfield for two seasons, pur- suing special studies. His next move was to Marshall, Minnesota, where he studied law with A. C. Forbes, Esq., for about a year. While teaching he had also carefully pursued a course of legal studies and had spent some time in a law office in Canby. In June, 1886, he was admitted to the bar at Marshall. Mr. Mckenzie had pursued a careful and thorough course of study in law and had become well prepared for the prac-
tice of his profession. His examination for admission to the bar was most satisfactory to his friends and reflected credit on himself by virtue of its excellence. The newspaper referred to his admission to the bar as fol- lows : "Mr. John McKenzie passed a very creditable examination and surpassed the most sanguine expectations of his friends. Judge Weber and the examining committee of attorneys who were present speak in the highest terms of Mr. Mckenzie, and admit that they were agreeably surprised at John's knowledge of legal lore." This examination was a little on the order of a competition, as there were three candidates for admission. Each was therefore put upon his mettle to out-do the others and answer correctly the many perplexing questions that were put to them by their examiners. Our subject was about as well prepared for the examination as was the committee who conducted it. The correctness of his answers to the ques- tions put to him was certainly commendable, and when the ordeal was over it was found that Mr. Mckenzie stood highest of the three who appeared before the examiners. The next move made by our subject was to locate in New Ulm, where he entered the office of Hon. John Lind, continuing with him during the summer of 1886. That fall he came to Lake Benton and took the place of Forbes, Davis and Mckenzie, attorneys, which business he now conducts under his own proprietorhip. Since coming to the village Mr. Mckenzie has proven himself one of the most active and public-spirited citizens, and has labored hard and earnestly in every project which tended to the build- ing up and development of the locality. He has made many friends by his uprightness of character and is loyal in his attention to vari- ous offices of local government. As a law- yer the people have nothing but words of praise and commendation for him. He is painstaking and thorough in his management
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of the details of every case placed in his hands.
Mr. Mckenzie was married in Canby, Minnesota, in January, 1887, to Miss Kate A. Gilruth, a daughter of James and Ellen (Osler) Gilruth, natives of Scotland. One child has blessed this union, Harriet Ellen, born in Lake Benton.
ILLIAM W. GRAY is one of the thrifty and prosperous citizens of Pipestone county, Minnesota, and is located on section 34, of Grange township. He was born in the State of Vermont in Washington county, May 19, 1836. His parents, David aud Mary (Wilson) Gray, were also natives of the Green Mountain State, where they lived until their death. The father was a wheelwright by trade and followed that oc- cupation throughout the greater part of his life. He was a good mechanic and was es- teemed and respected in the neighborhood in which he lived.
The subject of our sketch remained beneath the parental roof until he was about twenty years of age, up to which time he had been given a good common-school education, and had assisted his father in work at his trade. On reaching that age he removed to the State of New York, where, during one sum- mer, he engaged in work on a farm with an uncle. The same fall he removed to Genesee county, Michigan, where he remained but a few months, and from whence he went to Grand Rapids, same State. In the latter city he made an engagement to work in the lumber woods, which he did during the com- ing winter, and the next summer found em- ployment in a brickyard. He then went to Chicago, and about sixty miles west of that city found work in the harvest fields, con- tinuing his employment on a farm there for about two years, and then returning to Chi- cago. He then found employment in a sash,
blind and door factory, in which he remained for about two years. On the breaking out of the Rebellion he offered his service to the Union army, and in October, 1861, enlisted in Company B, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and was discharged September 24, 1862. At the battle of Pittsburg Landing, early one Sunday morning, he was severely wounded and was removed to the hospital at Mound City, thence being taken to Cairo, and thence to Chicago, where he remained a year before he was able to perform any work. Remov- ing thence he went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where for one year he had charge of the machinery department of a sash, door and blind factory. Returning to Chicago, he again found employment in the same shop in which he had previously worked. All but one of the following five years were spent in Chicago, the one excepted being spent by him in his native State, where he remained among friends and relatives. Re- turning to Chicago he again found work with his old firm and continued a profitable engagement with them for about five years, continuing his residence in Chicago until 1879. In that year he came to Pipestone county, Minnesota, and homesteaded his present farm of 160 acres in Grange town- ship.
Mr. Gray was married August 3, 1869, to Miss Clara E. Shaffer, by whom he had one child, Estella. Mr. Gray came to the county early in 1879, and in July was followed by his wife and child. Soon after their arrival the wife died, September 26th of that year. Mr. Gray was afterwards married to Mary B. Scribner.
The subject of our sketch is a most exem- plary citizen, and is looked upon as being one of the reliable farmers of the township. He is a man of excellent judgment, of good education, and takes an active part in public affairs. In politics he affiliates with the republican party and is a leading member
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of the Grand Army Republic, Simon Mix Post, No. 95.
AMES P. MORSE is a prominent fur- niture dealer of Slayton, Murray county, Minnesota. He is the son of Benjamin and Anna (Tilley) Morse, natives, respectively, of Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. Mr. Morse was born in Sheffield, New Bruns- wick, October 13, 1814. When about eight years of age he removed with his parents to St. Johns, where the father en- gaged in work as a ship-builder.
The early life of our subject until thirteen years of age was spent with his parents, and he was given a good common school educa- tion. On reaching thirteen years of age, his mother died and he had to look out for himself more or less until he was sixteen years old. He was then bound out to learn the millwright trade and served an appren- ticeship of five years, after which he com- menced work at that trade for himself in his native county. Until 1864 our subject remained in his native country working at his trade for various firms. For two years he was employed by his brother Thomas as workman on sectional docks. He was also foreman in building the St. Louis bridge and had charge of forty-five carpenters for two and a half years on this structure. After this until 1872 he engaged in work at his trade throughout the Western States, building mills, elevators, etc. In 1872 he went to Clarence, Missouri, and engaged in manufacturing and selling furniture, opera- ting this business in that city until 1886. He then came to Slayton and opened his present furniture store. Since coming to this place he has sold his Missouri property and invested the proceeds in a comfortable home and large stock of goods in Slayton. Our subject has taken an important part in the general history of the various locali-
ties in which he has lived, and especially since coming to Slayton has actively assisted in the pushing forward of various public projects. Among the various posi- tions which he has held may be named that of councillor while in his native country, and also various local offices in Missouri and Minnesota. He was a leading member of the Presbyterian church for some sixteen years before coming to Slayton, but since his location here is associated with the work of the Methodist Episcopal society. Mr. Morse is a pleasant, intelligent gentleman and is held in high esteem.
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