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 25
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 25
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He was born at Sing Sing, New York, May 10, 1827, and is a son of Ralph and Mary (Lee) De Camp, natives of New Jersey. The father was a master mason and a fine mechanic. It was he who built the prison
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at Auburn, New York, in 1816, and the one at Sing Sing in 1826, also erected the fine county buildings at Auburn, and other splendid structures in the Eastern States, including city halls, church edifices, etc. He followed this calling for forty-five years of his life, employing at one time over 500 men. He lived a retired life at Aurelius, New York, until ninety-three vears of age. His wife died at the age of seventy-seven. They had a family of nine children, only two of whom are now living - William, of Cresco, Iowa, and our subject, Horace.
Horace was educated at Auburn, New York, and received an academic course, leav- ing school when seventeen years old. He then clerked for two years. He engaged to do office work for a railroad, with whom he was employed for eight years, after which time he went to Texas. This was in 1849, and he clerked on a steamboat between Galves- ton and Houston for a year and a half. From the boat clerkship he went to selling goods at Galveston, continuing for three years, but on account of ill health he came North and settled in Wyoming county, New York, on a farm; but, possessed by an ambition which saw better openings West, he came to Wisconsin, settling five miles from Milwaukee, where he again entered farm life, continuing for five years. In 1871 he came to Clay county, Minnesota, and in the spring of 1872 moved his family to Moorhead, where he has since remained. It was he who built the first frame house erected in that city. In it he kept hotel, the same being styled "The Western Hotel." Around this pioneer building much of early- day history centers. Here the first Protest. ant church services were held, and that, too, before the building was fairly enclosed. The Rev. O. H. Elmer, a Presbyterian min- ister, who was holding meetings in tents, was the one who conducted this meeting.
Politically, Mr. De Camp is a republican,
and has been honored, as well as burdened, with various local offices. including register of deeds and justice of the peace, etc. He was elected in 1876 to the former office, and still fills the place, acceptably to all con- cerned, at this writing (18SS).
HIe was married to Miss E. C. Pierson, of Jacksonville, Illinois, in 1886. He was, how- ever, married before, and by that union has a son named Ralph E., now an artist in Montana Territory.
Our subject has been a great traveler in his day. He passed all through Mexico, as early as 1855 and 1856, and has seen much of every State in the Union. He is a well posted and highly intelligent man, who well represents the culture found in the famous Red River Valley.
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K NUD O. LAASTUEN, one of the prominent and respected members of the farming community of the Red River and Park Regions, is a resident of section 9. San- ford township, Grant county, Minnesota, where he is extensively engaged in agricult- ural pursuits.
He is a native of Norway, born on the 17th of July, 1843, and is a son of Ole Laas- tuen. a native also of that kingdom. The father of the present subject emigrated to the United States in 1861, and settled in Fill- more county, Minnesota, where he is still liv- ing at the advanced age of ninety years. The mother of Knud died in 1882. They were the parents of the following named children - Halvor, Ole. Carrie and Knud.
Knud Laastuen spent eighteen years of his life in the land of his birth. Up to the age of fifteen he attended the common schools, and from that period in life until he was eighteen he remained at home and took care of his parents. At the age of eighteen he came to the United States with his parents,
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and, after a voyage of twelve weeks, landed at Quebec, Canada. From this port of land- ing the party removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where the parents have since re- sided. Mr. Laastuen remained in Fillmore county until 1872, when he went to Grant county, Minnesota, and bought a tract of land, comprising 100 acres, on sections 8 and 9, Sanford township. He at once began im- provements, and he now has one of the best and most highly cultivated farms in the county. He owns 500 acres lying on sections 8, 9 and 16, and is engaged extensively in general farming and stock-raising.
He was one of the first settlers in the county, and took an active part in the organ- ization of his township. When he settled here the town of Elbow Lake was an Indian camp, containing about four thousand Indians. They gradually retreated as the advancing line of civilization pressed onward and westward.
Mr. Laastuen was united in marriage Jan- uary 28, 1864, to Miss Mary Knudson, and they have been blessed with the following children - Betsie A., Ole, Gusty T., Emil, Carlis, Knud M., Oscar A., Anton, Ida M., Elmer C., and the following, who are de- ceased -Emma C., Martin, Amin and Mar- tin C.
Mrs. Laastuen is a native of. Norway, and came to the United States when but twenty months old. She went with her parents to Wisconsin, where they remained ten years. At the expiration of that time they removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and there remained until 1872. She received her education in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and was married in Fillmore county. Mr. Laastuen was the first person to engage in the liotel business in Elbow Lake, and for many years ran the Elbow Lake House, car- rying on farming at the same time. He owns the greater part of the village site. His land lies on the dividing ridge between
the Mississippi and the Red River of the North, and is one of the most picturesque places in the northern part of the State. He. has held the offices of constable, trustee, etc. He is a stanch democrat, and is pres- ident of the democratic club of the Fifth congressional district. He is a man of the- strictest honor and integrity, highly esteemed by all who bear his acquaintance.
The land belonging to Mr. Laastuen is- historic. The court house for Grant county was located on the place in 1872, and in 1886 the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie & Pacific railroad located their depot on his land.
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AVID V. FREDENBURG is the pro- prietor of the Crown Roller Mill, and is also a manufacturer of bob-sleds, in Alex- andria, Douglas county, Minnesota. He is a native of New Jersey, born December 14,. 1840. He is the son of Absolom and Han- nah (Kelsey) Fredenburg, both natives of New Jersey.
Mr. Fredenburg's father was a farmer by occupation, and, in 1856, thinking to better his condition in the West, came to the State- of Iowa, and two years later to Minnesota. He located on some school land near North- field, this State, where he remained until his- death. IIe was the father of ten children, seven of whom are now living-William, Aaron, Ann, Sarah, Joseph, David V. (the subject of our sketch) and Mary (now the wife of B. F. Nelson).
Mr. Fredenburg spent his boyhood days on the farm, remaining until his fifteenth year. He did not take kindly to education, and often received a whipping for playing truant. After leaving home, lie went into a saw mill at Floyd Centre, Floyd county, Iowa, where he remained one year. He then went to Kansas, where he worked for three years, thence coming to Minnesota.
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On coming to this State, he turned his atten- tion to farming, settling on eighty acres of school land near Northfield. On this land he built a farm house 14x20 feet, and made other valuable improvements. In 1867 Mr. Fredenburg thought he could do better, financially, in some other locality, so he sold his farm near Northfield, and came to Alex- andria, Douglas county, this State. Here he started the first livery stable, and built one of the first dwelling houses in the place. "This latter property he traded for a farm in Lake Mary township, which he kept for ten years. During this time Mr. Fredenburg was on the road a great deal, traveling at least 10,000 miles to and from Alexandria. Mr. Fredenburg was not intended for a farmer, however, and did not make a success in that business, so, finally, he sold his farm and came back to Alexandria, where he engaged in the manufacture of bob-sleds. He built a shop for this work near the site of his pres- ent mill, and, though he employed six men constantly, could not supply the demand. In 1884 he purchased a feed mill in Batavia, Illinois, and shipped it to Alexandria, think- ing that there milling would be a profitable business. This he ran in connection with his factory until 1883, when he built the Crown Roller Mill, which has a capacity of sixty barrels of wheat flour and forty barrels of buckwheat flour per day. In this mill he keeps three men employed at the heavy work, attending to the general management personally. He is doing an extensive and flourishing business.
In 1873 Mr. Fredenburg was married to Miss Mary M. Truax, of Lake Mary, daughter of Absolom Truax. This union has been blessed with four children -- Van, Ida, Walter and George.
In politics Mr. Fredenburg is an independ- ent. In all public matters he is a prominent factor. He is actively interested in and lib- erally disposed toward all things that per-
tain to the financial and business welfare of the city. Mr. Fredenburg is known to be a leading and representative citizen of Alex- andria
ROSPER SEIDLINGER, dealer in harness, saddlery and leather goods, is one of the leading business men at Brandon, Douglas county, Minnesota. He was born in Loraine, now a province of Germany, but in former years a portion of France, on the 2d day of May, 1860, and is a son of George and Kate (Sherman) Seidlinger. The father was a farmer, and remained in his native land until 1869, when he came to the United States and settled in Wisconsin, where he still lives.
Prosper Seidlinger, whose name heads our article, was the ninth in a family of ten chil- dren. He was only nine years of age when he came with his father to the United States. He received his education in Dodge county, Wisconsin, attending school until he was eighteen years ofage. From that time until he was twenty, he aided his father on the farm. He then learned the harness-maker's trade at Columbus, Wisconsin, and has fol- lowed that business ever since. In 1886 he came to Douglas county, Minnesota, and opened a harness shop at Brandon village, which he still conducts. He is a successful business man, an excellent workman, and his straightforward dealing has won him a lucra- tive trade. He is a democrat in politics. He has taken an active interest in all matters of a public nature, and is now a member of the village council of Brandon.
Mr. Seidlinger was married on the 17th of February, 1884, to Miss Fannie Goodsell, and they are the parents of two children - Emily and George. The family attend the Catho- lic church.
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OHN A. MUNDIGEL, one of the pro- prietors of the East Grand Forks Brewing Company, is a resident of East Grand Forks, Polk county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the business indicated. He is a native of Germany, born in Hessen-Darmstadt, on the 21st of November, 1854, and is the son of John A. and Anna M. (Lammer) Mundigel, natives also of the kingdom of Germany.
Mr. Mundigel was thrown upon his own resources when he was at the early age of nine years, and from that period in life until he was fourteen years old he attended the excellent common schools in his native land. At the age of fourteen years he emigrated to the United States and after landing settled in Menomonee, Wisconsin, where he remained nine years, clerking in a store. At the expiration of the nine years Mr. Mundigel removed to Grand Forks, Dakota, where he engaged in a brewing factory as clerk. He remained with that establishment until the spring of 1885, when he went to East Grand Forks, Polk county, Minnesota, where he entered the brewing business with Messrs. Zengel and Hoffman. The firm name stands, Mundigel, Zengel & Company, and the brewery has a capacity of 10,000 barrels per year. They are doing an extensive busi- ness and have $10,000 worth of stock on hand, and are one of the heaviest firms in the Red River Valley.
Mr. Mundigel was united in marriage in Grand Forks, Dakota, to Miss Mary Wingen (the daughter of Peter and Catharina Win- gen), on the 30th of December, 1881. Mrs. Wingen died in 1882.
Mr. Mundigel was married the second time on the 21st of January, 1885, to Miss Anna Rippel, the daughter of Paul and Anna Rippel. This marriage has been blessed with the following children-George W. (deceased), William A. and Mamie L ..
Mr. Mundigel is one of the active citizens of the city, and is a stanch democrat in pol-
itics. Liberal and enterprising. every move- ment calculated to benefit his city or county receives his active support and encourage- ment, and he has been prominently identified with the growth and development of the western portion of Polk county in late years.
UGUST F. GEORGE. In all coun- tries, and especially in this republic, with its free institutions, the man who has bestowed upon him the gift of public office is, indeed, a representative citizen of the community who have thus clevated him. Mr. George, the deservedly popular auditor of Norman county, Minnesota, is one of these, and is counted one of Ada's most thorough- going, energetic business men. He was born in Hanover, Germany, January 31, 1857, and is the son of August and Christiane (Holzap- fel) George. Receiving, in his native land, the elements of an excellent education, he remained beneath the parental roof until he had attained liis sixteenth year, when, with a laudable ambition of carving out a better fortune for himself than was possible among the vinc clad hills of his fatherland, he left. his home and friends and started for the New World.
Landing in New York City in the winter of 1873-74, the friendless boy found employment. in the metropolis, in a grocery store, and by close attention to business and the prudential economy so characteristic of his race, ac- cumulated some little capital. He remained in that city until 1879, when, his heart yearn- ing for his relatives and friends in the land of his birth, he recrossed the wide Atlantic. on a visit to the scenes of his youth. In February, 1880, he came back to the United States, and, on the vessel in which he made the voyage, received from a gentleman from Minneapolis, who was also a passenger, a very favorable idea of the great and growing.
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Northwest, and formed a determination of visiting that portion of the country at some future day. On his return to New York he bought a small business stand, but the idea of going West having gained possession of him, in a few months, having found a pur- chaser, he sold out and came directly to Ada, then an embryo village. This was in July, 1880. He was favorably impressed, and determined to cast in his lot with the people of that place, and purchased a lot on which he erected the second two-story building in the village. In the following autumn he put in a stock of furniture and gents' furnishing goods, and remained in that line of trade until the fall of 1885, when he closed out to assume the duties of auditor of the county.
Mr. George has more or less been associ- ated with the public life of Norman county ever since his arrival here. In the fall of 1881 he took an active part in the organiza- tion of the county, and was the first treas- urer thereof, being appointed to that office in the spring of 1882. This office he held until January, 1883, but without neglecting his mercantile pursuits; but when, in the fall of 1885, he was appointed to the office of county anditor, he sold out his business to devote his entire attention to the position committed to his charge. In the fall of 1886 he was elected to fill the same office, and in 1SSS re-elected his own successor. He has also served as treasurer of both town and village, and is looked upon as a model officer. Orderly and methodical, he has at- tended to the business of the county in a most efficacious manner, infusing his own energy and activity into the administration of its affairs as far as called upon to do by his office, and has won for himself hosts of friends and warm supporters throughout the country.
In his financial affairs Mr. George has been .eminently successful, owning a magnificent farm of 800 acres of most excellent arable
land, which he is rapidly improving and bringing under a high state of tilth. His satisfaction with the Red River Valley and its pre-eminent advantages for the poor man is expressed by him in the plainest manner.
Mr. George was united in marriage Au- gust 19, 1881, with Miss Hilda Moeckel, of Crookston, Minnesota, and daughter of Ernest and Bertha (Meyer) Moeckel, of Crookston. They have one child, Irma, aged six years.
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LE JOHNSON, a thrifty representa- tive of the sturdy Norwegian race, distinguished above all other nationalities for their economy, energy and industry, is a resident of section 3, Pomme de Terre town- ship, Grant county, Minnesota. He is a native of Norway, born on the 10th day of April, 1848, and is the son of Johannes and Hattie (Olson) Johnson, natives also of the kingdom of Norway. The parents of our subject, with their family, emigrated to the United States, July 4, 1863, and after a voyage of seven weeks and four days landed at New York City, New York. From: their port of landing they removed to Wis- consin, settling in Winnebago county, where the parents are still living.
The subject of this biographical memoir received his education in his native land, and at the age of fifteen years emigrated to the United States with his parents, as above stated. After landing on American soil, he went with his parents to Winnebago county, Wisconsin, and from there he removed to Shawano county, Wisconsin, where he re- mained until 1867, engaged in the pineries and on a log drive. In 1867 he moved from this place back to his old home in Winne- bago county, where he bought a farm and engaged in farming there until May 1, 1869. At that time he sold out and went to Free-
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born county, Minnesota, and after remaining there about five months, seeking land, went to Grant county, Minnesota, settling in Pomme de Terre township. He home- steaded 160 acres of land on section 3, and has since lived there, engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He now owns a beautiful farm of well-cultivated land, comprising 240 acres, and his place compares favorably with any in the county.
Mr. Johnson was united in marriage on the 27th day of August, 1867, to Miss Anna Sauby, a native of Norway. She emi- grated to the United States in 1850 with her parents. She was educated in Wisconsin, and they were married in Oshkosh, Wis- consin. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the par- ents of nine children, named as follows- Hattie, Betsie O., Julia M., John O., Charlie, Maggie, Oscar, Tobias and Mabel. Hattie married a Mr. Johnson, a farmer of Pomme de Terre township. All the rest of the children are at home, and Betsie and Julia are school teachers.
Mr. Johnson is one of the representative men of his township, and has held the fol- lowing offices-justice of the peace, treas- urer, county commissioner and school clerk. He. with his family, belongs to the Lutheran church, of which organization he is secretary. In his politics he affiliates with the repub- lican party, and takes an active interest in all local affairs. He is a man of the strictest honor and integrity, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
OHN K. LEE. Among the efficient county officers of Grant county, Minne- sota, is the gentleman whose name heads this memoir, the present incumbent of the office of register of deeds. He is a native of Norway, born in Waldres, May 17, 1854,
and is the son of Knute and Berith (Lom- men) Lee, who were natives of that kingdom.
In the year 1857 the family emigrated to the United States, settling in Spring Grove, Houston county, Minnesota, where they lived for twelve years. The father died there in 1869. The mother remained in that county for one year after her husband's death and then settled in Grant county, Min- nesota, where she is still living.
John K. Lee, the subject of this article, spent his school days principally in Minne- sota, finishing at Northfield in 1880. He was in attendance at St. Olaf's College for four months, and then settled on his farm in Lein township, Grant county, Minnesota, where he had homesteaded land in 1883. In January, 1887, he settled in the village of Elbow Lake, Grant county, Minnesota, where he has since continued to reside.
Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Jorgene Thune, March 5, 1888. Mrs. Lee is a native of Norway, and emigrated to the United States in 1881. Mr. Lee has held various offices in his township, including constable, assessor, township clerk, school clerk, etc. In 1887 he was elected to the office of register of deeds of Grant county. In political matters Mr. Lee is a republican. He has always taken an active interest in all public and official matters, and every enter- prise calculated to benefit his town or coun- ty receives his support and encouragement.
ON. JAMES G. McGREW, editor and proprietor of that widely known journal, the Crookston Weekly Chronicle, is a native of the State of Indiana, having been born near Indianapolis, December 23, 1833, and is the son of Samuel T. and Mary (Stebbins) McGrew. At the age of five years he was taken to Logansport, in the same State, by his parents, where he re-
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ceived his education and grew to man's estate. Appreciating the advice of that prince of journalists, Horace Greeley, in the spring of 1855 Mr. McGrew came to Minne- sota, and settled in Fillmore county.
But he, like many others throughout this broad Northland, was awakened by the rude tocsin of war, when "within the furnace blast,"
" Not painlessly did God recast And mould anew the nation."
Recreant traitors dared menace the flag and government, endeared to patriots by a thousand ties, and at the call of our presi- dent thousands were springing to the rescue. Among those "whose faith and trust rang true metal," was the subject of this sketch, who, with the fires of patriotism burning brightly in his bosom, enrolled himself among the brave defenders of our common country. in Company B, Fifth Minnesota Infantry. His company was stationed at Fort Ridgely, Minnesota, during the summer of 1862, and participated in the battle at Redwood, and in the defense of Fort Ridgely against the Sioux Indians, in which engagements twenty-five of its members were killed, and are now buried near where the fort stood. The State has erected a monument to their memory. In the fall of 1862 he joined the regiment at Oxford, Missouri, and participated in many of the engagements, marches and hardships that make up its glorious record. At the siege of Corinth, in the second battle at that place, the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Jackson, Mechanicsburg, Fort De Russey, Clarksville, Bayou Roberts, Tupelo, Nash- ville, Spanish Fort, and many others, he was with that heroic command when they carried their flags to a conspicuous place in the " red tide of battle." Having veteran- ized, Mr. McGrew remained in the service until the close of hostilities, having risen from the rank of private to that of captain
and was mustered out and discharged at Demopolis, Alabama, September 6, 1865. Returning to Minnesota, he located in Fill- more county, where he entered upon the study of law. In 1868 a discriminating con- stituency elected him to the State legis- lature, and he served the people of that district in the tenth session of the house of representatives.
In the year 1871 the subject of this sketch removed to Becker county, Minnesota, and, while a resident there, was admitted to the bar at a session of the court held at Brain- erd. Crow Wing county, in 1872. For two terms he occupied the office of county at- torney of Becker county, to the satisfaction of the people. In 1879 he removed to Crookston, and, in company with John Cromb, instituted the Bank of Crookston, the first one in Polk county. In the man- agement of that establishment and in the practice of his profession Mr. McGrew con- tinued until July, 1884, when he purchased the material and outfit of the Crookston Weekly Chronicle, and has been its editor and proprietor ever since. As a man and a citizen he receives a merited commendation as one of the foremost men of the com- munity, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all.
Mr. McGrew was married, in 1868, to. Mary A. Ide, at Rochester, Minnesota, and has a family of four children.
OTTRELL J. CAHALEY, attorney at. law, and a prominent real estate and insurance agent in the village of Barnesville, Clay county, Minnesota, is a native of New York State. He was born in New York City, January 22, 1856, and is the son of George W. and Ella M. (Lane) Cahaley, na- tives of New Jersey and Canada, respectively.
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