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 31

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 31
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 31

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Herman, where he engaged in the hardware and furniture business. He then engaged as clerk in the hardware store of Wells Brothers, which position he has since filled.

Mr. Adams was united in marriage on the 17th of September, 1888, to Miss Addie Dexter. The parents of Mrs. Adams had the following named children-Addie, Ger- tie, Carrie, Ernest, Fred, Grace, May and Harry. Mrs. Adams is a native of Maine and was educated in Nova Scotia. She went to Minneapolis with her parents in 1884. Her father is foreman of a saw mill in Minneapolis. Mr. Adamns is one of the rising men of his residence village and is highly esteemed by all who bear his ac- quaintance. He is an active member of Hernan Lodge, No. 3, Independent Order of Good Templars.

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EORGE F. COOK, the efficient postmaster at Breckenridge, Wilkin county, Minnesota, and editor and proprie- tor of the Breckenridge Echo, is also an attorney-at-law. He was born in the beauti- ful city of Boston, Massachusetts, on the 3d day of November, 1856, and is a son of Major W. W. and Frances A. (Walker) Cook, also natives of that city. The father was in excellent circumstances, and lived a retired life in his native State. He was promi- nently connected with the democratic party of Massachusetts, and in 1868 was a candi- date for State senator, and, although he ran ahead of his ticket, was defeated. He was an able and popular man, and received a commission of major in the Fifth New Hampshire Regiment. He enlisted at the commencement of the war, and was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, on account of which he was discharged for disability. His father's grandfather was Isaac Cook, a manufacturer of the celebrated Isaac Cook

ale, at Roxbury, Massachusetts. They were of English descent. The parents of our subject's mother were Samuel A. and Cecelia (Thayer) Walker, natives of Boston, Massa- chusetts. Samuel Walker was a real estate merchant at that place, and a strong temper- ance man, both in principle . and practice. They were of English descent.

George F. Cook, the subject of this bio- graphical review, spent his younger days attending the academy at Derry, New Hampshire, and in 1869 attended the public school in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1873 he commenced attending the Allen Boarding School in West Newton, Massachusetts, and in 1875 started in at Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1879. For the next two years he attended the Boston Law School, and in 1881 paid a visit to the Old World, where he remained two years, visit- ing all places of note or interest on the Con- tinent and in England. During his sojourn in the Old World he attended the Universi- ties at Leipsic and Heidelberg, Germany. Mr. Cook returned to the United States in 1883, and at once removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he remained a short time, and then went to Breckenridge, Wilkin county, Minnesota, where he has since re- sided. During the winter of 1884 he taught school, and in the month of August of that year started the Wilkin County Gazette. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster, and at once sold his paper and devoted himself to his duties as such. In the following year 1886, he re-purchased his old paper, and, after two years, again sold out and estab- lished his present paper, the Echo. During the fall of 1888 he was candidate for the office of county auditor, and went down with all the other candidates on the demo- cratic ticket.

Mr. Cook was united in marriage in Dres- den, Germany, in 1883, to Miss Bertha Kum- mer, a Russian lady, and the daughter of

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General Julius Kummer, the general super- intendent of the musical directory at St. Petersburg. He also held the rank of gen- eral in the Russian army. Mrs. Cook is a graduate of the high schools in her native land, and a lady of wide learning and intel- ligence. Mr. Cook is a man of extensive travel, and is one of the representative and prominent citizens of the Red River Valley. He is a democrat in politics, and has held the offices of school director, justice of the peace, etc. A man of intelligence and distinction, he deserves the credit and esteem which he receives. He is recognized as one of the most able and trenchant editorial writers in the western part of the State.

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OBERT NISBET. Prominent among the most successful and thrifty farm- ers in the western part of Polk county, Minnesota, is Robert Nisbet, whose name heads this article, a resident of section 30, Nisbet township. He is one of the old set- tlers, and as he has always taken an active part in all matters of a public nature, his name is prominently identified with the his- tory of the growth and development of this region.

Mr. Nisbet was born in Lanark county, Canada, on the 19th of August, 1853, and is a son of William and Christina (Lindsay) Nisbet. The parents, who were natives of Scotland, settled in Canada at an early day and were pioneers there, enduring many hardships and privations during pioneer times. Robert Nisbet spent his boyhood and received his education in Canada. He re- mained on the farm with his parents until the spring of 1870, when he learned the blacksmith's trade and followed that voca- tion for six months. At the expiration of that time, not liking the business, he quit it and went to Winona county, Minnesota.

For three years he worked for farmers in the summer, and in the winters worked at lum- bering in the woods of Wisconsin. Then, in the spring of 1874, he came to Polk county, Minnesota, and bought "half-breed script," with which he purchased his land, thereby saving $100. He has since made this his home and now owns 300 acres of excellent land, a good share of which is under a high state of cultivation; 130 acres of the land is located on section 30, Nisbet township, and the balance on section 25, Huntsville. He has one of the finest residences in the west- ern part of Polk county, and, as a whole, his building improvements are a credit to the locality in which they are situated. Mr. Nisbet carries on farming extensively, and also, during the proper season, runs a steam thresher. At other seasons of the year he uses his engine to grind feed for himself and neighbors.

Mr. Nisbet was married first on the 8th of May, 1878, in Canada, to Margaret Furger- son, a daughter of Duncan and Violet (Mc- Dougal) Furgerson. The marriage was blessed with one child, named Robert D., and the mother died when the child was about two weeks old. Mr. Nisbet sent the child to its grandparents in Canada, where it still remains.

Mr. Nisbet's second marriage occurred March 12, 1888, when he was wedded to Miss Christina Geddes, a daughter of Daniel and Agnes (Furgerson) Geddes.

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ALVOR RASMUSSON, who will form the subject of the following sketch, is the present clerk of court for Clay . county, Minnesota, and is one of the most prominent citizens of Moorhead.

He was born September 26, 1841, in Nor- way; his parents were Rasmus and Annie (Halverson) Rasmusson, both natives of Nor-

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way. They left the home of their nativity in 1866 and sailed for America, landing at Quebec, Canada, and from that section came to Winona, Minnesota, where they engaged in farming until 1874. This family had six children-Halvor, Signe (Mrs. Rice), Annie (Mrs. Dr. K. Hoegh), and Kriste (Mrs. O. C. Hals).

The parents were devoted and exemplary members of the common church of all who come to this country from Norway, the Lutheran.

Halvor, our subject, was reared to farm labor and received a good common school training in his native country. He came to America in 1861, with the view of making this land his future home. He settled in Kilbourne City, Wisconsin, where he engaged in teaching for a year and then entered the general store of J. E. Dixon & Son, where he remained two years, which brought hini to 1863. He then went to Winona, Minne- sota, and there engaged in buying grain for Charles Miller. He remained there and in the adjoining counties for ten years, buying grain both for himself and others. In 1876 he commenced operating a hotel at Winona. He followed that for two years, and, in 1878, came to Moorhead and ran aj hotel, called " Winona," for two years more. He was then elected city clerk, holding that office for two years, at which time he resigned to fill the office of clerk of court, to which he had been elected in the fall of 1884. He was re- elected for the four years' term in the fall of 1888, so that he still holds that position. As other evidence that he has been looked upon by public opinion as a man in every partic- ular qualified for business duties, it may be noted that he has been a member of the board of education for the past five years, as he was a member of the school board when in Houston, Minnesota, also president of the council of that place for a term of two years. He has identified himself with every enter-

prise calculated to benefit either the city or surrounding country, and may justly be termed one of the leading citizens of the locality in which he lives.

Mr. Rasmusson was married in his native land, March 24, 1861, to Miss Live Johnson, daughter of John Hanson. By this union the husband and wife have been blessed by the advent of six intelligent children, three sons and three daughters-John R., Annie M., Julia P., Rudolph T., Frederick C. P. and Nora H.

The parents and all their children belong to the Lutheran church, to which they not only subscribe, but also practice the faith as set forth by that religious denomination.

Politically Mr. Rasmusson is a democrat, and belongs to the order of Odd-Fellows and Druids.

ANS P. HANSON, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, who lives on section 24, Elbow Lake township, is one of the leading citizens of Grant county, Minne- sota. He is an old settler, and as he has al- ways taken an active and prominent part in all matters of a public nature, and held a number of the most important county offices, his name is indissolubly connected with the official history of his county.

Mr. Hanson was born in Drammen, Nor- way, on the 16th of September, 1844, and is a son of Torger Hanson. His father was a farmer, who came to the United States in 1851, and settled in Adams county, Wiscon- sin, where he still lives. Torger Hanson and wife were the parents of four children, who are still living - Anna D., Helena, Henrietta and Hans P.

When Hans P. Hanson was seven years of age he came to the United States with his father. As a consequence he received his education in Adams county, Wisconsin,

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where his father settled. He attended school until he was fifteen or sixteen years of age and then began the realities of life on his own account. During the winter seasons he worked in the woods, and in the summer months was employed on the river. In the meantime the Civil War had broken out, and, on the 11th day of March, 1865, our subject enlisted in Company D, Fifty-second Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry. It should be stated that he enlisted under the name of Peter Hanson, as he was known by that name at that time. His service was princi- pally in scouting and skirmishing with the bushwhackers, and he was finally honorably discharged on the 28th of July, 1865, at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. After his discharge he at once returned to Wis- consin, and was again employed in the pineries and on the river. In 1871 he came to Grant county, Minnesota, and took a homestead on section 24, Elbow Lake town- ship, where he now lives. He was one of the earliest settlers in the township, and he at 'once became recognized as one of the leading citizens in that portion of the county. He has held a great many local offices, such as school treasurer, school clerk, etc .. be- sides many of the more important positions. He has been a member of the board of county commissioners ever since the county was organized, except six years, and for a number of years was chairman of that body. He also for four years held the office of sheriff of Grant county, and in every official position in which he has been placed he has always discharged the duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. He was also the first postmaster in Elbow Lake township, and held the office for four or five years, and when the United States census was taken in 1880, he was the enumerator for the north half of the county. It will thus be seen that he has figured very prominently in the official history of the

locality in which he lives. A man of the strictest integrity, he is held in the highest esteem, both as a neighbor and an exemplary citizen.

Mr. Hanson was married on the 8th of October, 1871, to -Miss Tinney Johnson, a native of Norway, who came to the United States in 1866. Their marriage has been blessed with the following children-Emma B., Josephena, Thomas R., Henrietta, Henry, Frank and Stena. Besides these, one child died in infancy. The family are exemplary members of the Lutheran church.

In political matters Mr. Hanson is a re- publican. He is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, holding a membership in the Herman Post.

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EORGE F. MORISSE is a member of the firm of Baumbach & Morisse, druggists, of Alexandria, Minnesota. He is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was born on the 25th of November, 1851, and is the son of Frederick and Gesina (Alft) Morisse, who were natives of Oldenburg, Germany.

His father came to America in 1849, settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In that city for a number of years he was engaged in the grocery business, from which he has now retired. In the father's family there were six children-George F., Herman D., Mary, now Mrs. Jensen ; Charles, Edward and Emil.

George F., the subject of our sketch, re- ceived his education in the city of Mil- waukee, Wisconsin. He was also a clerk in his father's store. After a time, however, he changed his business and turned his atten- tion to clerking in a drug store. In 1878 he came to Douglas county, Minnesota, where he clerked for Lewis & Ball in the drug business. He was with this firm for a num-

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ber of years: In 1881 he engaged in the drug business with C. Hanson, under the firm name of Hanson & Morisse. This business partnership was continued for eighteen months, at which time Mr. Baum- bach bought out Mr. Hanson's part of the business, since which time the firm has been Baumbach & Morisse. Mr. Morisse is one of the oldest druggists in Alexandria. He has interested himself thoroughly in the advancement of the business interests of his adopted city and has proven himself worthy of the respect of his fellow-townsmen. In politics Mr. Morisse is a republican; he is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Honor, and is one of the leading citizens in the place. In 1877 he was married to Miss Etta Schoyan, of Columbus, Wisconsin, daughter of George Schoyan. They have had four sons-Carl, Raymond, Frederick and George.

ENRY F. SANFORD. Prominent among the representative men of the famous Park Regions of Minnesota is the gentleman whose name heads this biograph- ical mnemoir, a farmer and also the county auditor of Grant county, Minnesota. He resides on section 17, Sanford township. Mr. Sanford is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Pleasantville, June 2, 1845, and is a son of Ebenezer C. and Lurana (Beardsley) Sanford, natives of New York State. . They were married in Pennsylvania. They settled at Pleasantville soon after their marriage and resided there until 1851. They then sold their home and moved to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where they settled on a farm, remaining seven years. In 1858 they removed to Mercer county, Illinois, liv- ing there until the father's death in 1862. The father was a farmer through life with the exception of the time of their residence

in Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, where his attention was taken up with the stoneware trade. The mother is still living with her son Jasper in Grant county, Minnesota, and is at the advanced age of seventy years. There were the following children in the family-Sylvia, now Mrs. Delamater, of Pennsylvania; Asenath, the wife of Mr. Eaton, of Herman, Grant county, Minne- sota ; Jasper N., a farmer of Grant county, Minnesota; and Henry F. The family are members of the Methodist church.

Mr. Sanford, the subject of this article, spent his younger days in the school-rooms of his native State and at the age of thirteen years moved with his parents to Illinois, where he left school at the age of sixteen. After leaving the school-room he came to St. Paul, Minnesota, in September, 1863, and enlisted in "Hatches' Battalion," serving until June, 1866, when he was honorably discharged at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. After his discharge he came to Grant county, Minnesota, and worked by the month until 1868, when he returned to Illi- nois and worked in the Rock Island Arsenal for two months. Returning to Minnesota, Mr. Sandford homesteaded a tract of land on section 17, Sanford township, Grant county, Minnesota, where he has since con- tinued to operate, carrying on general farm- ing and stock-raising. He was the first settler in Sanford township, and took an active part in the organization of the town- ship. The township derived its name from Mr. Sanford, and he has always been an enthusiastic participant in all movements whereby the general welfare may be en- hanced.

Mr. Sanford was united in marriage No- vember 11, 1877, to Miss. Cordelia C. Cald- well, and this union has been blessed with one child-Sylvia. Mrs. Sanford is a native of Ohio, and was reared and educated in Wisconsin. Mr. Sanford is a republican in

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his political affiliations. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Andrew J. Hubbard Post, No. 115, at Herman. He is one of the representative citizens of his township and county and has held various local offices, including assessor, town clerk, justice of the peace for ten years, first presi- dent of the village council of Elbow Lake. He was elected to the office of county aud- itor in 1873, serving until March, 1878, and was again elected to the office in the fall of 1886, and re-elected in November, 1888. He has discharged the duties devolving upon that responsible position with satisfaction to all parties concerned, and is justly regarded as one of the most efficient and capable offi- cials in the western part of the State.

HARLES A. BROWN, the present in- cumbent of the office of deputy sheriff of Polk county, Minnesota, is a resident of the city of East Grand Forks. He is a native of the State of New York, born in Clinton county, May 13, 1844, and is the son of William and Jane (Gray) Brown, natives of Scotland and France, respectively. The fatlier of our subject was a Scottish peer, but who later emigrated to the United States. The parents had a family of nine children.

Charles A. Brown, of whom this sketch treats, remained in his native county until 1853, when he removed with his parents to St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where his father took a farm. Our subject attended school and worked on the farm until the 19th of April, 1864. At that time he enlisted in the Thirty-seventh Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry (Company F), First Brigade, First Division, Ninth Corps. He was honorably discharged in Washington, D. C., on the 27th of July, 1865. He was in a number of battles and skirmishes, including Harrison's

Creek, Virginia; June 17 and 18, 1864; Petersburg and explosion of mine, July 30, 1864; Yellow House Station, Virginia, Au- gust 19 and 21, 1864; Weldon railroad, Au- gust 25, 1864 ; Pegram Farm, September 30 and October 2, 1864 ; Hatches' Run, October 27, 1864; Fort Stedman, Virginia, March 25, 1865; and capture of Petersburg (Fort Mahone), Virginia, April 2, 1865. After he was mustered out, he re- turned home and soon moved to St. Paul, where he attended the Commercial College and again returned home. In the fall of 1866 he went to New York and spent that winter traveling in different parts of the State. The next summer he returned home, and in the summer of 1868 went to Irving, Marshall county, Kansas, where he was engaged in the grocery business for one year. In 1869 he again returned home and for the next ten years was traveling in dif- ferent parts of the world. In 1879 or 1880 he removed to Minnesota and settled in East Grand Forks, Polk county, where he filed on a soldier's claim of 160 acres on section 12, Sullivan township. He remained upon his farm for seven years, improving it both in cultivation and buildings. During that time he lived in the city in the winters and in the summers remained upon his farm. He was also engaged in the contracting and building business, and was one of the sub- stantial farmers of the township. In 1886 he was appointed deputy sheriff, and at once removed to the city, where he gave his un- divided attention to his official duties.

Mr. Brown was married on the 19th day of October, 1877, to Miss Minnie Aldrich, the daughter of Pascal and Martha (Hans- berger) Aldrich, natives of Ohio and Ken- tucky, respectively. Mr. Brown is one of the esteemed and prominent citizens of East Grand Forks, and is a man of extensive travel. In political matters he is a repub- lican.

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NTON L. STUDLIEN, an enterprising and respected farmer of Land town- ship, Grant county, Minnesota, is one of the oldest settlers of his township. He is a na- tive of Norway, born in Christian Stift, June 8, 1850, and is the son of Lars O. and Anna (Olson) Studlien, natives also of the king- dom of Norway. They came to Quebec, Canada, in 1867, and moved from there to Dane county, Wisconsin, where they engaged in farming for four years. In 1871 they moved to Grant county, Minnesota. The father died in 1884. The mother is living in Land township with her daughter. There was a family of nine children, all of whom are still living-Ole M., John O., Martin, Anton L., Martha, Mary, Olora C., Ole and Lewis.

Anton L. Studlien, the subject of this biographical sketch, spent his early boyhood days in the excellent common schools of his native land, early imbibing those principles of thrift, industry and frugality which so distinguish the nationality from which he springs. Leaving school at the age of seven- teen he came to the United States with his parents, and when he was twenty-one came with his parents to Grant county, Minnesota. At that time, in 1871, he took a homestead on section 12, Land township, but sold the claim before proving up. About two years later he bought 160 acres on section 22 of the same township, to which he has since added 120 acres, so that his present farm consists of 280 acres. He has since lived there, making good building improvements and developing a valuable farm.

Mr. Studlien was married January 24, 1883, to Miss Caroline Peterson, and this union has been blessed with three children- Adolph, Leonard and Victoria, who died at the age of eight months. Mrs. Studlien is a native of Sweden, educated in Iowa and Minnesota. Her father is still living, but the mother is dead. The subject of this article

is one of the representative men of the county and has held various offices in his town, including those of school treasurer for twelve years, town clerk for two years, super- visor for a number of years, township treas- urer for ten years, etc. In political matters he affiliates with the republican party. He, with his family, belongs to the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which organization he is a deacon. Being one of the oldest settlers, he has been prominently identified with the growth and development of the locality, and his name is indissolubly associated with the official history of his township and county.

L. NORIN, M. D., one of the leading physicians of the village of Ada, and the official doctor of Norman county, was born in the kingdom of Sweden, August 16, 1858, and is the son of J. Norin and Mrs. A. Norin. He was reared in the land of his birth and there received the elements of a good education. At the age of seventeen he crossed the ocean to the New World and located at Council Bluffs, Iowa, where, for the first six months, he attended school to learn the English language. At the expira- tion of that time he took charge of the gas works of the State Deaf and Dumb Asylum, located in that city, where he remained some two or three years. The succeeding two years were spent in attendance upon the high school of the same city, in pursuit of education, and at the end of that time went to New York City and entered Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, and completed a course of study. During his vacation, not to be idle, and for the futherance of his knowl- edge of the healing art, entered as an assist- ant the Brooklyn Small-pox Hospital, where he remained some three months. Finishing his second course in the first mentioned col- lege, he went to Tamora, Nebraska, where

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he was with his brother in the mercantile trade for a year and a half, at the end of which he opened a drug store for himself. After eighteen months Dr. Norin sold out there and removed to St. Paul, where he entered the medical college from which he was graduated in the spring of 1886. He opened an office for the practice of his profes- sion in St. Paul, and remained there until the following September, when he came to Ada, since which time he has been a resident of that village, and in the enjoyment of a most excellent and increasing practice. His suc- cess in baffling disease and death has made him a marked man in the profession, and he is rapidly taking a front rank among his medical confreres. His popularity in social circles is only second to the interest he excites in the sick-room, and he is recognized as one of the leading citizens of the village. In 1887 he was appointed county physician and holds that official appointment at present (1888). The doctor makes a specialty of treating chronic nasal catarrh, and he is prob- ably the most successful physician in this line in the Northwest. He gained profi- ciency in this specialty as a student of the noted Prof. Frank H. Bosworth, of New York City, N. Y., the professor of nose and throat diseases in Bellevue Hospital Medical College.

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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 31

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