Illustrated album of biography of the famous valley of the Red River of the North and the park regions of Minnesota and North Dakota : containing biographical sketches of settlers and representative citizens, Part 102

Author: Alden, Ogle & Company
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Alden, Ogle & Company
Number of Pages: 872

USA > Minnesota > Illustrated album of biography of the famous valley of the Red River of the North and the park regions of Minnesota and North Dakota : containing biographical sketches of settlers and representative citizens > Part 102
USA > North Dakota > Illustrated album of biography of the famous valley of the Red River of the North and the park regions of Minnesota and North Dakota : containing biographical sketches of settlers and representative citizens > Part 102

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Louis. From St. Louis they went to Jeffer- son City, and then to the west side of the State in pursuit of General Price. Their brigade numbered 3,000, and they suddenly came upon Price with troops numbering about fifteen thousand, which caused a hasty but orderly retreat in our subject's brigade. They then went to Jefferson City by boat, and from there to the western part of the State to intercept Price, but before they got there he had left. They then went to St. Louis, and then to Nashville, Tennes- see, where they were in battle with Hood. They carried the pursuit to Eastport, where they camped three or four weeks, and then took passage to New Orleans. They arrived there in February, 1865, and in a short time took passage to Mobile Bay, and after remaining two weeks took transport to the east side of Spanish Fort, where they were under fire for several days. On the 19th of April the fort was evacuated, and while on their way to Montgomery they received word of Lee's surrender. From Montgomery they went to Meridian, Mississippi, where they remained nearly four months, and then returned to Minnesota and were mustered out August 21, 1865. After his discharge our subject returned home and engaged in farming until 1878, when he located in Mar- shall county, Minnesota, where he took a homestead and three and one-quarter sec- tions of school land and one-half section of railroad land. In 1881 he built his home in Warren, where he has since lived. He . opened a real estate office, and was appointed agent for railroad lands, and served an unex- pired term as sheriff, also county treasurer. He has been county commissioner and chairman of that body for three years, also chairman of the school board. In 1885 he opened the Windsor House, which he still runs. In May, 1886, he was appointed post- master, which position he still fills. He is one of the solid business men of the place,

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and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

Mr. McIntyre was united in marriage December 26, 1869, to Miss Margaret Hunter, the daughter of William and Mar- garet (Furgerson) Hunter, natives of Scot- land.

In political matters he affiliates with the democratic party.

E. REYNOLDS is the editorand manager of the Wadena Pioneer. Mr. Reynolds came to Wadena, Wadena county, Min- nesota, in June, 1888, to take charge of the above-named paper, which office he had pur- chased in company with his father, Prof. B. M. Reynolds, a short time previous. This paper is the oldest and most influential republican journal in Wadena county, and when first established by S. S. Gardner, in 1878, it bore the name of Northern Pacific Farmer. There have been numerous changes in the ownership and editorial management of the paper, but through all the changes it has adhered to the principles of the repub- lican party. In 1885 the paper was under the management of Messrs. Beerman & Will- son, and in that year its name was changed to the Pioneer. In 1886 Mr. Beerman became the sole proprietor of the paper and continued in charge until June 1, 1888, when it was purchased by the present owners, B. M. & J. E. Reynolds. Since Mr. Reynolds took charge of the paper it has im- proved very materially, and it is now one of the brightest and newsiest journals in the Northwest. Mr. Reynolds also has a large department in his office where he prints blanks of all kinds. He carries a large amount of advertising and has made his paper an eminent success in all of its depart- ments.

The subject of our sketch is a native of Lockport, New York, where he was born

November, 1, 1863. His parents were Prof. Benjamin M. and Mary A. Reynolds. When Joseph E. was but three years of age his par- ents removed to Madison, Wisconsin, where the father was superintendent of the city schools for four years. For two years he was super- intendent of the schools of Monroe county. In 1873 the family removed to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where the father was principal of the high school for four years. He is now residing in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he is superintendent of the city schools. Joseph E., the subject of our sketch, while the family was in La Crosse apprenticed to learn the printing business in the office of the Liberal Democrat, a daily paper issued by Symes & Usher. This paper is now known as the Morning Chronicle. After con- tinuing some time in the office of the Dem- ocrat he entered the office of the Republican and Leader, remaining in these offices two or three years, being for one year foreman in the latter office. At the end of this period he accepted a position in the office of the Morning Chronicle, with which he continued some six or seven years, for four years of that time being assistant foreman. Leaving La Crosse he spent two years in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. October 1, 1887, he went to Ashland, same State, where he accepted a position as foreman of the composing room of the Morning News, a leading daily paper. Remaining eight months with this paper, he then removed to Wadena, Wadena county, Minnesota, where he has since resided. Mr. Reynolds is thoroughly qualified both by natural endowments and education, experi- mentally and otherwise, to occupy his present position at the head of the leading paper of Wadena county. He has had fourteen years' experience in the newspaper business, and, therefore, understands it in all its details. In politics Mr. Reynolds is a loyal republican, believes in the principles of that party and always votes a " straight ticket."

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H. NOLEM, who is engaged in the general merchandising business in partnership with Mr. Thompson, has been a resident of Barnesville, Minnesota, since 1882. When he first settled there he was employed by the railroad company as bag- gage man, and later had charge of the trans- fer. In the spring of 1883 he was employed as clerk, from which he gradually worked up, and from September, 1887, to September, 1888, was agent at Glyndon. Then he returned to Barnesville, where he has since been engaged in his present business. He is a native of Kings county, New Brunswick, where he remained until coming to Barnes- ville in 1882. He is a leading merchant of that place and is doing a good business.

ARVIS A. GRANT is engaged in the lumber business and handles farın ma- chinery at Detroit, Becker county, Min- nesota. He is also engaged in the manu- facturing of all kinds of furniture, and is conducting some of the largest business enterprises in this part of the county. The place of his nativity is in the sea-bound Province of New Brunswick, where he was born in 1831.

Mr. Grant is the son of William and Hannah (White) Grant, the former being a native of New Brunswick, the latter born in Maine. The father was engaged for many years in farming on an extensive scale, and also in conducting a large lumber business in New Brunswick. At the time of his death, in 1884, he was a resident of the State of Maine. The mother died in 1854. In the farmer's family were fourteen children, four of whom are now living-William, Margaret, (now Mrs. Hovey, of Maine); Jarvis A. (the subject of our sketch), and George F. Will- iam Grant's father was also named William, and was a native of Ireland. He came to

America early in the eighteenth century, settled in the United States, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Hannah (White) Grant, the mother of the subject of our sketch, was the daughter of William White, a native of Connecticut. In early life he set- tled in the State of Maine, where he lived until his death.

Jarvis A. Grant, of whom this sketch treats, remained with his parents, receiving a good common school education in New Brunswick and in the State of Maine. When the gold excitement broke out and the stories came to his ears of the wonderful discoveries and large fortunes found in California, he, too, was taken with the fever, and, going by way of the Isthmus, went to the gold fields on the Pacific slope. This was in 1851, and so successful was he that he remained until 1853, at which time he returned to the State of Maine and engaged in hotel keeping. He was also interested largely in the lumber business, remaining in the Old Bay State for some fifteen years. At this time he re- moved to New Brunswick, where he was born, and engaged in lumbering and farming, following these occupations for about ten years. He then concluded to remove to the far West and seek a new location where he might " grow up with the country." So in 1877 he came to Minnesota, locating in Clay county, and engaging in the same lines of business that he had pursued in his native province. He was engaged largely in the lumbering business, and his farming opera- tions were carried on on an immense scale in the township of Riverton, where he owned 1,500 acres of land and actively cultivated 1,000 acres. He engaged largely, also, in raising stock, both horses and cattle, and employed nearly two hundred men. Con- tinuing the personal management of these large interests until 1884, he then removed to Detroit, Becker county, where he has since lived. He had, however, made this

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city his headquarters for shipping supplies to his lumber camp in Beltrami county since 1879.

Mr. Grant was married in 1854 to Miss Elizabeth Pennington, of Holton, Maine. She was a daughter of James and Mary A. (Gallop) Pennington, her father being one of the wealthy and prominent farmers of that country. Mr. and Mrs. Grant have a family of five children-J. Byron, Alva A., Ratch- ford, Ella and Hudson.

Mr. Grant is a director of the First National Bank of Detroit, of which he was one of the organizers. He has the only furniture fac- tory in the town and the only one on the Northern Pacific Railroad west of St. Paul. He owns considerable village property, and resides in an elegant five-thousand-dollar residence located on Minnesota avenue. Wherever he has lived he has taken an ear- nest and active interest in all public matters, and besides holding many minor offices was justice of the peace while in Maine and also while in Clay county, Minnesota. In politics Mr. Grant affiliates with the republican party. He is a man of sound principles, and when necessary can defend his princi- ples by strong and persuasive argument. Looking at his career from a business stand- point, it can well be said that he has reached the height of merited success. In all respects Mr. Grant is a man who will command the confidence and esteem of all those with whom he comes in contact, by virtue of his excel- lent business qualities and integrity of char- acter.

ETER HERBRANDSON, the present deputy postmaster in the village of Caledonia, Traill county, North Dakota, is a native of Norway. He was born near Drammen, on the 9th of August, 1847, and is the son of Herbran and Bergret (Narvesen) Peterson, also natives of that kingdom.

Mr. Herbrandson, of whom this article treats, remained at home attending school until he was about fifteen years old. At that age he learned the baker's trade, which he followed for about three years. In 1864 he emigrated to the United States, and after landing, located in Clayton county, Iowa, where he worked for farmers for about four: years. At the expiration of that time he boughta team and threshing machine, rented a farm and worked at farming and threshing .. About that time he bought a piece of timber land, and in the winters put in choppers and' got out wood and posts. He was thus employed until 1874, when he moved to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, with the intention of taking land, but as the country did not; suit him and it was just at the time when the grasshoppers were a great pest in that region, he did not settle. In his travels he went up into the Red River Valley, but soon returned to Otter Tail county, where he had left his family. They removed to the unsettled portion of that county, where he put up hay and built a house and stable. While there he was troubled with the Indians, who camped near there every winter. They would beg or steal, and although there never was an outbreak, they were a constant worry to the settlers, who did not know what moment there would be an uprising. In the spring of 1875 he removed to Caledonia, Traill county, North Dakota, where he took a pre-emption claim, which he afterward proved upon as a homestead. He engaged in shipping and buying cattle, which he followed for two years. He proved up on his claim in August, 1878, and after living upon it fornine months removed to the village, where he has since lived. In January, 1882, he was appointed postmaster of the village, which position he filled until April, 1886, when he was appointed deputy postmaster. In the fall of 1878 he was elected county commissioner, and since that

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time has held that office. He was form- erly interested in the real estate business,and now owns something over one-half section in Dakota and 200 acres in Minnesota. He owns a fine dwelling house, and is amongthe prominent business men of Caledonia.

Mr. Herbrandson was married in Clayton county, Iowa, in June, 1873, to Miss Carrie Nelson, and they have been blessed with the following-named children - Emma, Anna, Nina and Harry. Our subject and his fam- ily belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church. He is a substantial and careful bus- iness man, and since his residence in Cale- donia has been prominently identified with the local prosperity of the place. He is a man of excellent business qualifications, and his uniform straightforward and honorable course in all business transactions has caused him to be rated as one of the most honorable men in the county.

USTAF A. HOKENSON, the proprietor of the Battle Lake House, at Battle Lake, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, will form the subject of our present sketch. He was born September 21, 1847, and is the son of Hoken and Johannah (Anderson) Hoken- son, both of whom were natives of Sweden. They were well-to-do farmers in that coun- try, and lived there until their death.

The subject of this sketch remained with his parents in the old country until 1868, when he came to the United States, landing in New York City and going to St. Paul, Minnesota. He obtained work on the Mani- toba Railroad during the summer, and that fall returned to St. Paul, remaining there for about one year tending bar. He next removed to Conner, Minnesota, where he engaged in teaming for two years. Then some six months were spent in tending bar in St. Paul, after which time he went

to Otter Tail City, Minnesota, where he engaged in the saloon business. From there he went to Monitor Falls, where he built a dam and commenced the erection of a large mill. After he had got the work on the mill under good headway, a freshet swept the dam away and destroyed all that · had been done on the mill, and by this disas- trous stroke he lost all he had. Remaining there about one year he then removed to Balmoral, where he started a hotel and opened a saloon, and continued in these lines for two years. At the end of this time he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and rented a farın near the town. Two years of farm life found him ready for better times. He pur- chased a farm and conducted that for two years, when, in 1882, he came to Battle Lake and built the hotel which he now runs. He still retains his farm.

Mr. Hokenson was married December 18, 1874, to Miss Lucia Larson and they are the parents of two children-Augustine E. and Alnia L.

In politics Mr. Hokenson affiliates with the republican party. He is a capable busi- ness man, with that perseverance and energy that knows no such thing as fail in what he undertakes. Although beaten back by ill- fortune several times in his life, and at those times having lost nearly everything he had, he has pursued a steady course and has regained all and more than he lost in those disastrous days. He runs a first class hotel and he has an excellent class of trade.

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EORGE W. BARRY. The subject of this biographical sketch is one of the leading and representative business men of the village of Grey Eagle, Todd county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in a success- ful drug business. He is a native of New York, born in Jefferson county, on the 14th

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of June, 1851, and is the son of James and Sarah (Woodman) Barry, both of whom are natives of New York. They are now pros- perous farmers of Wisconsin, where they settled in 1864. They are the parents of the following-named children-Albert, James, Cynthia, Sarah, George, William, Samuel, Mary and Robert.

George W. Barry received his education in Canada, where he had removed with his par- ents at the age of three years. There they remained eleven years, then removed to Rich- land county, Wisconsin, and he remained at home, assisting his father operate the home farm until he was twenty-one years old. At that age he engaged in farming on his own account, and remained in that locality, engaged in general farming and stock-raising, for eighteen years. He then went to Todd county, Minnesota, and located in the village of Grey Eagle, where he has since remained.

Mr. Barry was united in marriage to Miss Maggie M. Karnes, a native of Wisconsin, and the daughter of Adam Karnes. In this union our subject and wife have been blessed with the following-named children - Lillian, Burton, Allen, Clark, Jennie, Willie and Nellie. Our subject is a republican in his political affiliations, and is actively interested in the campaigns of that party. He is well and favorably known throughout the county, and is a man of the strictest integrity and honor.

ON. J. H. VAN DYKE, the present incumbent of the office of city justice of Alexandria, Minnesota, is a native of Albany county, New York. He was born April, 20, 1836, and is the son of Aaron and Polly (Hughs) Van Dyke, also natives of New York.

Mr. Van Dyke received his education in Pennsylvania, and in the summers assisted his father operate the home farm. In 1857

he located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and engaged in farming for a number of years. He then settled in Alexandria, Minnesota, where has since remained, prominently iden- tified with the local history and prosperity of that locality. In 1883 he was elected to the State legislature, and has been closely connected with the political history of the nortlı central part of Minnesota. He is a stanch republican in his political affiliations, and is actively interested in the campaigns of that party.

EORGE FRITZ, of the firm of Fritz & Falley, publishers and proprietors of the Dakota Globe, of Wahpeton, Dakota, is one of the leading editors and newspaper men in the Red River Valley. He is a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, born in Bell- ville April 30, 1855, and is the son of John Fritz, a native of Germany, and who emi- . grated to the United States and located in Wisconsin.

Our subject was raised on the home farm, with the usual educational advantages of the common schools, until he was eighteen years of age. He then entered a printing office in Cresco, Iowa, and after remaining a short time went on the Mississippi river, where he remained one season. He then went to Lan- caster, Wisconsin, where he completed his trade in two years. After learning his trade he went to Aurora, Nebraska, and bought a half interest in the Telegraph, remaining there until 1879. In March of that year he removed to Keokuk, Iowa, and took a course in the mercantile college, when he again returned to Lancaster, Wisconsin, and after working at his trade one year went to Du- buque, Iowa. He then visited the Southern States, and on his return settled in Postville, Iowa, and after remaining one year again went to Wisconsin. After one year's sojourn in Wisconsin he went to Wahpeton, and after

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working on the Times one year went into business with Fred Falley, with whom he has since remained. In the spring of 1883 he went to Milnor, Dakota Territory, where he remained three years, holding a half interest in the Sargent County Teller .. He then sold, out and returned to Wahpeton, where he has since remained. He owns con- siderable property in Sargent and Marshall counties, comprising 480 acres of fine farm- ing land.

Mr. Fritz was married in 1883 to Miss Lucy Clubb, the daughter of John Clubb, of Lancaster, Wisconsin. Our subject is a stanch adherent to the principles of the republican party, and is a member of the Odd-Fellows fraternity.

ORGER F. HOV, sassistant editor of Afholds Basunen, of Hillsboro, Da- kota, is a son of Frants E. Hovsveen and Mari Torgersdatter, natives of Norway, and was born in Oier, Gulbrandsdalen, Norway, December 11, 1861.

Up to the age of sixteen he worked on the farm of his parents and attended a common school ; he was then employed in a judge's office for nearly six years, during which time he became well informed as to the prac- tice of law. Besides his office work he studied English, German, mathematics and other branches belonging to a higher educa- tion ; got his "Middle-school " graduation, and for some time continued his study at higher schools in Christiania. Sickness obliged him .to give up his studies, and he went home. He stayed there six months, then clerked about two years in a general store, after which he returned home, and on June 6, 1887, he arrived at Hillsboro, Dakota. He worked a short time at the carpenter's trade, and stopped with friends until he was employed by Goodman

& Shields in their loan and insurance office. After three months with them he accepted the position of assistant editor, which he now holds.

Mr. Hov is a member of the Scandinavian Baptist church at Fargo, Dakota. He believes prohibition the one thing needful to this country, and is one of the stanch and faithful members of the prohibition party. He is an intelligent, well educated gentle- man, posted on the different public ques- tions, and is an able writer.

L. THORPE, one of Ada's most active and enterprising business men, engaged in the mercantile business, is a native of New Jersey. He was born in Bergen county, New Jersey, in 1842, and in 1855 located in Delphi, Iowa. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Second Iowa Cavalry, and participated in a great many engagements in the late war. After receiv- ing his discharge in October, 1864, he located in Earlville, Iowa, and until 1867 was engaged in business there. He then went to Manchester, Iowa, where he has since held business interests. In 1882 he settled in Ada, where he has since remained, actively engaged in business. He also owns interests in various elevators along different lines of railroads, and has small branch stores established in various towns in the Red River Valley. He is a prominent citi- zen and well known in the northern part of the State, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

VID B. TODD, a prominent and suc- cessful agriculturist of Wilkin county, Minnesota, is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 24, Breckenridge township. He is a native of Indiana, born

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in Jennings county on the 17th of Novem- ber, 1835, and is a son of Levi W. and Demia (Butler) Todd, natives of Ohio. The father settled in Jennings county, Indiana, after his marriage, and served as county treasurer, also paying some attention to real estate matters. Later in life he was a phy- sician, and died in 1887. The mother died in 1876. They were devoted members of the Christian church. They were blessed with the following-named children - John, Jane, Eliza, Ovid, Irby, Jerome, William, Levi and Alice.

Mr. Todd, of whom this article treats, received his education in Vernon, Jennings county, Wisconsin, and at the age of sixteen years entered an apprenticeship to the tin- ner's trade. After serving three years he followed the trade one year and then secured a position as clerk in a dry goods store for his brother-in-law, at Franklin, Johnson county, Indiana. In 1858 he returned to his farm, and in the spring of 1859 removed to Meeker county, Minnesota, where he remained one summer. He then returned to Indiana, and after remaining a short time again located in Meeker county. He fol- lowed farming until 1861, when he went to Forest City, and September 2, 1861, was sent out with a company of forty men to rescue some families on the frontier. Our subject's party were surprised by the Indians and. driven back to Forest City. Our subject was wounded and his father, on learning of his trouble, took him by boat from Clear- water to Minneapolis, as he was not able to stand the jar of a journey overland. In 1878 our subject located in Brecken- ridge, Minnesota, where he opened a hard- ware store, which business he carried on until he was burned out in 1884. He then removed to his farın, which he had purchased previous to this, and where he has since remained. He was town treasurer from 1879 to 1887, and has been prominently identified

with all local matters, since his residence in the county.

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Illustrated album of biography of the famous valley of the Red River of the North and the park regions of Minnesota and North Dakota : containing biographical sketches of settlers and representative citizens, Part 102

Author: Alden, Ogle & Company Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Alden, Ogle & Company Number of Pages: 872

Author: Alden, Ogle & Company
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Alden, Ogle & Company
Number of Pages: 872