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 32

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 32
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 32

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Dr. Norin was married December 31, 1888, .to Miss Helen C. Schriver, of La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was an instrumental music teacher of that place, and a sister of Mrs. Peter Ramstad, of Ada.

RANK H. PETERSON, a prominent attorney-at-law in the famous Red River and Park Regions, is engaged in the practice of his profession in the thriving vil- lage of Barnesville, in Clay county, Minne- sota. He is a native of the State of Mary-

land, born in Baltimore on the 16th day of August, 1859, and is the son of John and Alice Peterson, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively.

Mr. Peterson, who is the subject of this article, remained in his native city and at- tended the common schools until he was thirteen years of age. He then entered the Western Maryland College at Westminster, Maryland, where he attended for five years and from which he was graduated with high honors in 1878. At the expiration of his collegiate course he entered Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and took a special course in history and political economy, and after this entered the law department of the University of Maryland and graduated after two years, taking the degree of LL. B. The same year he took the academic degree of M. A. In May, 1881, lie was admitted to the bar of his native State and for some time thereafter made teaching his profession,in the suburbs of Baltimore. In the month of July, 1884, Mr. Peterson left his native State and traveled all through the West and Northwest, and finally located at Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he was associated with Colonel Bax- ter, now Judge Baxter, of that place, and of whom a sketch will be found in another de- partment of this ALBUM, and remained with him until the latter went on the bench in 1885. A short time after that Mr. Peterson . formed a partnership with H. W. Childs, and in the spring of 1885 they opened a law and real estate office in Barnesville, Clay county, Minnesota. In January, 1887, Mr. Childs was appointed assistant attorney-general and removed to St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Peter- son has since carried on the business alone, and is one of the most successful and well- known attorneys in the Red River Valley.

Mr. Peterson was united in marriage, in 1887, to Miss Mamie E. Baseman, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and the daughter of John and A. E. Baseman. Mr.

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Peterson is engaged in a general law busi- ness. He is well and favorably known in the Park Region and is a prominent member of the legal fraternity in that region.

He is an adherent to the principles of the republican party and is an active participant in all movements of a local nature.

ENRY T. BROWN, who is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigars in the city of Crookston, Minnesota, is one of the largest wholesale and retail dealers in those articles and tobacco in this portion of the Valley. He is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born October 30, 1854, and is the son of Charles and Augusta (Hanna) Brown. He received his primary education in the excellent schools of his native city, than which there are none better, and at the age of twelve years came to Minnesota and settled with his parents at Red Wing, Good- hue county. While there he learned the trade of cigar-making and followed it as journeyman in different places until 1881, when he embarked in that line of business for himself in the city of Stillwater, this State. He remained there but a short time, and in 1882 removed to Albert Lea, where for nearly a year he was employed as fore- 'man in the cigar factory of Thomas Warrick. Having by that time formed some business acquaintances, in company with M. Lewis, under the firm name and style of Lewis & Brown, he opened a manufactory of cigars of their own in that seat of justice of Freeborn county. This not proving a financial success, Mr. Brown left that city and sought employ- ment at his trade wherever it offered. In this manner passed the time until August, 1884, when he came to the Red River Val- ley, settled in Crookston, and established his present business. At that time he liad but a capital of $82, but he had ambition, energy,

and business tact, and possessed a thorough knowledge of his trade. He therefore rented a building, and, purchasing a small stock of leaf tobacco, set to work alone to build up a trade and make a living.

The strict integrity that has marked his business life in this community, the excel- lence of his goods and his accommodating and affable manner of conducting his busi- ness have rapidly brought him the reward of such virtues. His trade has so increased that now he gives employment to. six or seven hands besides his own, and in addition carries a large stock of foreign and domestic goods of other manufacturers, chewing and smoking tobacco and smokers' supplies. His customers are scattered over a wide expanse of territory, and the extent of his transac- tions increase with each year. He has done well since coming to this place and is already the owner of his neat residence.

Being endowed with many social qualities, Mr. Brown is an honored member of both the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows and the Sons of Hermann, and a prominent in- strumentalist in the Crookston cornet band. He was united in marriage, January 26, 1888, with Miss Augusta Voelker, of Crookston, a native of Canada, and daughter of John Voelker.

CHARLES M. BREUER is the propri- etor of the Fergus City Iron Works, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. He is the proprietor of the only first-class foundry and machine shop in the city, and articles of his manufacture are steam en- gines, shapers, saw arbors, pulleys, hangers, shaftings, iron columns, balance wheels, sleigh shoes, sash weights, sinks, bridge- washers, circular saw mills, and, in fact, all kinds of articles that are made in first-class foundries and machine shops. He also manu-

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factures all kinds of boiler work, and makes a specialty of engines and mill repairing. His business house is located at Nos. 119, 121 and 123 Whitford street, Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Mr. Breuer is a native of Prus- sia, and was born in the year 1842. He is the son of Henry and Theresia (Von Ems) Breuer. The parents were born in the city of Cologne, Prussia, and the father was a practical machinist, which business he car- ried on in his native land. The parents came to America in 1851 and settled at Chicago, Illinois, where the father worked at his trade until his death, which occurred in 1862. The mother is still living in the city of Chi- cago. In the father's family there were fourteen children, four of whom died in Prussia and one in Andersonville prison, where he was starved to death. Nine of the children are still living - Anna, Elizabeth, Charles M., Jacob, Adam, Theressia, Charles A., Elizabeth and Bertha.

The subject of our sketch spent his younger days attending school in his native land, and after coming to America attended the educational institutions of Chicago for some time. Later he commenced work in the McCormick machine shops at Chicago, Illinois, and remained in these shops until seventeen years of age. He completed his apprenticeship at this business in New York City, in 1864. After this he worked as a journeyman machinist in different cities in the East and West until 1880, in which year he came to Fergus Falls. Prior to his com- ing to Fergus Falls he had charge of a seeder factory in Horicon, Wisconsin, for two years. He completed his present large shops in Fergus Falls in 1881, having first built a smaller one on Lincoln avenue in 1880. His first shop proving inadequate for his purpose and business, he sold it out and built the large one which he now occupies. He has done a very large business, employing during a great part of the time twelve men.

At present he has two men employed in his shop. He is indeed a master machinist, un- derstands his trade thoroughly, and can manufacture all kinds of machinery.

Mr. Breuer was married in 1879 to Miss Augusta Kostman, a native of Prussia. They have had three adopted children - Annie, now Mrs. Ludwig; Hattie, who died at ten years of age, and Emma.

Mr. Breuer is a stanch republican, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is re- spected and confided in by his fellow-towns- men. He has held several positions of trust in the city, and was for two terms alderman of the Second Ward. He lives in a fine residence on Lakeside drive, a beautiful home, fitted up with all modern improve- ments. Mr. Breuer is one of the substan- tial and representative men of Fergus Falls.

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PHILIP H. CLAGUE, druggist, and one of the prominent business men of Her- man, Grant county, Minnesota, was born on the Isle of Man, July 9, 1849. His parents were William and Mary (Campbell) Clague, who were also natives of the Isle of Man. William Clague and his first wife became the parents of the following children - John J., Mary A., Margaret E., Eliza, Philip, George W., Charlotte and Alfred, who are now living, and William and Edward, who died in infancy. Mary Campbell Clague, the first wife, died in 1856 at the age of forty years. Soon after her death the father came with the children to the United States. In 1859 he returned to his native isle and married Miss Isabella Corrin, who still survives him. By this second marriage one child was born - Katharine S., who is now Mrs. Berlin, of Herman. William Clague was a blacksmith by trade originally, but during the latter part of his life was a local preacher, and for forty years a member

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of the Methodist Episcopal church. Upon coming to the United States he first settled at Hastings, Minnesota, but later removed to Castle Rock, Minnesota, where he re- mained until the time of his death, which occurred December 23, 1884, he being in liis seventy-ninth year.

Philip H. Clague, the subject of this bio- graphical sketch, spent his earlier school- days at Castle Rock, Minnesota, and, in 1870, at the age of nineteen years, finished his course at Carlton College, Northfield, Minnesota. After leaving college Mr. Clague engaged in the railroad business at Benson, Minnesota, where he was employed as clerk in the office at that place. At the expiration of two years he was employed as agent at Kirkoven, Minnesota, which posi- tion he filled for two years. Mr. Clague then removed to Herman, Grant county, Minnesota, where he was employed as agent for seven years. At the expiration of that time he engaged in the hardware business, and at the end of three years sold out to Mr. Earsley, and then secured the post- mastership for four years. In the year 1887 Mr. Clague engaged in the drug busi- ness, which he has since followed. In addi- tion to his drug trade he is a member of the machinery firm of Clague & Prescott. He carries a complete line of goods in his drug store, and the agricultural implement firm handles all manner of farm machinery and implements of husbandry.

Mr. Clague was united in marriage on the 12th day of October, 1876, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Miss Faustina E. Prescott, and this union has been blessed with two chil- dren - Winifred and Florence, both of whom are now at home. Mrs. Clague is a native of Lowell, Massachusetts, and was educated in Minnesota. She is a daughter of N. M. Prescott, a farmer of Grant county, Minnesota. She is one of eight children, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal

church. Mr. Clague is one of the prominent business men of the county, and has held the following offices : Member of the village council for one year, town clerk for many years, postmaster for four years, etc. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is an adherent to the principles of the repub- lican party.

NDREW G. ANDERSON. Among the thrifty and successful members of the farming community of the famous Red River and Park Regions, is the gentle- man whose name heads this article, a resi- dent of section 18, Fisher township, Polk county, Minnesota. He is a native of Nor- way, born in Christian Stift on the 18th day of July, 1850, and is the son of Gunder A. and Tilda G. (Moy) Anderson, also natives of that kingdom. The mother of the sub- ject of this article died in Wisconsin.

Mr. Anderson, the subject of this sketch, emigrated to the United States in 1867, with his parents, and settled at Primrose, Wiscon- sin. After his mother's deatlı, Mr. Ander- son remained in Wisconsin with his father, brothers and sisters, for five years. They then came to Stearns county, Minnesota, where they remained for a period of ten years. In 1876 they again removed, this time settling in Polk county, Minnesota. After locating there, the father took a tract of railroad land, and Andrew G. home- steaded 160 acres of excellent land on sec- tion 18, Fisher township, where he has since remained. He now owns a fine farm, all well under cultivation and with good build- ing improvements. He is engaged in a gen- eral farming and stock-raising business, and is one of the prominent and enterprising farmers of that locality. He springs from a race distinguished for their industry and economy and has made his way in the world only by his own efforts.

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PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA.

Mr. Anderson was united in marriage in Stearns county, Minnesota, June 10, 1877, to Miss Mary Olson, a native of Norway, and the daughter of Gunder Olsen and Gura (Tores Daughter) Londe, also natives of the kingdom of Norway. Mr. Anderson now owns 280 acres of the most desirable land in the township. It lies on the banks of the Red Lake river and is partially timber land. He is one of the active men of the town, taking an active interest in all local matters and has held the office of supervisor of his township for a number of years.

YMAN B. EVERDELL, one of the leading attorneys of the Red River Valley and Park Regions, is engaged in the practice of his profession at the village of Breckenridge, Wilkin county, Minnesota. He is a native of New York State, born in Oneida county, on the 26th of June, 1842, and is the son of the Rev. Robert and Eliza- beth (Beecher) Everdell, natives of England and Vermont, respectively. The father's active days were spent in New York State, and in 1850 he settled in Wisconsin, at Fond du Lac, where he is now living. He was a Congregational minister through act- ive life and a strong temperance man. He was a free-soiler and later a republican, and a man highly esteemed by all who knew him. The father and mother of our subject are both living in Fond du Lac, the former being eighty-nine years old and the latter seventy. They were the parents of the following liv- ing children - Lyman B., Lucy, now Mrs. Root ; Emma D. and Eva C., the wife of a Mr. Bryant. The grandfather of our sub- ject was John Everdell, a native of England, and a prosperous agriculturist in that land. He raised a family of fourteen children, some of whom are now living at a very old age. He himself lived to be nearly one

hundred years old, and all through life en- joyed the most robust health. The parents of the mother of the subject of this sketch were Lyman and Sarah (Stone) Beecher, natives of Connecticut. Lyman Beecher was educated for a physician, but followed farming in Vermont. He accidentally met his death by falling fromn a load of hay upon a pitchfork, which pierced his body. They both died in Vermont, and were among the early settlers of that State.

Lyman B. Everdell, of whom this sketch treats, worked on a farm in Wisconsin and attended school until he had reached the age of seventeen years. In 1859 he commenced the profession of school teaching and con- tinued to follow the same for two years. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the First Wis- consin Infantry, Company K, in General Negley's brigade, and was discharged April 1, 1863, on account of a wound received at Perryville, Kentucky, on the 8th of Octo- ber, 1862. After his discharge he resumed his studies and commenced a course at Ripon College, Wisconsin, where he remained a short time, and in January, 1864, re-enlisted in the Thirtieth Wisconsin, and was pro- moted, first to the position of first lieuten- ant, and afterward to captain of Company I, Thirty-fifth Regiment. In May, 1866, the regiment was sent to Brownsville, Texas, to watch the movements of Maximilian. Mr. Everdell participated in the following named battles - Perryville, Kentucky ; Nashville, Tennessee ; Atchafalaya River, and took part in the capture of Spanish Fort, Alabama, and the capture of Mobile. When Mr. Ever- dell returned from the front the second time he again entered the college at Ripon, from which he graduated in 1868. He was ena- bled to do this by keeping up with his class while he was in the service. After his grad- uation he secured the position of principal of · the high school at Ripon, Wisconsin, also at Lodi and Boscobel, in the same State. In

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1870 he established the Ripon Free Press, and, after six months, sold out and removed to Berlin, Wisconsin, where he connected himself with the Journal at that place. After four years in Berlin he was engaged as a teacher in the commercial college at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, which position he filled with credit and satisfaction until 1876. In 1876 he was admitted to the bar, and during the same year commenced his professional life as an attorney-at-law in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. In 1879 Mr. Everdell removed to Breckenridge, Minnesota, where he opened a law office and has since resided. In 1880 he was elected to the office of county attor- ney, which he held until the 15th of Octo- ber, 1882, when he resigned. He was ap- pointed judge of probate by the governor, and held that position until January, 1883. He is extensively engaged in the law busi- ness and also devotes special attention to the purchase and sale of land and village prop- erty.

Mr. Everdell was married in 1866 to Miss Annie Valentine, the daughter of Solomon and Sarah Valentine, and they are the par- ents of one child-Frank V. Mr. Everdell is a democrat in his political affiliations, and is one of the leading citizens and attorneys in the northwestern part of the State. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, Sumner Post, No. 49. He stands high in the community in which he lives, both as an exemplary citizen and an able lawyer.

R. LEWIS C. DAVENPORT, dental surgeon, of Moorhead, Minnesota, is a man who stands high in his chosen profes- sion and carries with him the respect of the entire community in which he lives.

He is a native of Conneautville, Pennsyl- vania, born October 19, 1858. His parents are George and Hannah (Rhodes) Davenport,

natives of New York and Pennsylvania, re- spectively. The father is a farmer and lives on the same farm he went on with his parents fifty years ago. His father was Cornelius and his mother Caroline (Snyder) Davenport, natives of Painted Post, New York. He was also a farmer and followed it during his life. Hannah Rhodes' parents were Lewis and Elizebeth (Fetterman) Rhodes, natives of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where they were engaged at farming. They had a large family. The father was a democrat, strong in his political life, and held many local offices. His father's 'name was Thomas, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, who followed farm life throughout his days. It should here be stated that the Davenport family were Methodists and the Rhodes family, generally speaking, Presby- terians. George Davenport had a family of three sons, two of whom are now living. They were reared on their parents' farm and both obtained a high school education. When eighteen years of age, our subject traveled two years for a firm at Rochester, New York, after which period he studied den- tistry with Dr. George McDonnell, of Con- neautville, Pennsylvania, and also with Dr. Marshall H. Webb, of Lancaster, in that State. He graduated from the dental depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, in 1880. He then came to Moorhead, Clay county, Minnesota, where he engaged in active practice. Our subject has been , president of the Northwestern Dental Association, also is a member of the State Board of Dental Examiners. Dr. Davenport has an extensive practice at various points in the Northwest. His office in Moorhead is situated on Front street, the first door west from the City Hall.

Dr. Davenport was married in 1882 to Miss Ada L. Webster, of Maquoketa, Iowa. She is the daughter of Birdsall and Frances (Smith) Webster.

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Our subject is a splendid dentist and also a fine business man; he owns land in north- ern Dakota and has a residence in Moor- head. He stands in the forefront among the dentists in the Northwest.

Politically he is a republican, and he is an acceptable member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Moorhead.

UDGE CHRISTIAN O. CHRISTIANSON, the present judge of the probate court of Polk county, Minnesota, and senior member of the firm of Christianson Bros., real estate dealers, loan and insurance agents, was born in the kingdom of Norway, April 4th, 1850, and is the son of Ole and Anna (Vidden) Christianson. When he was but eight years of age he was brought to the United States by his parents, who settled in Allamakee county, Iowa, on a farm pur- chased by his father. On the paternal acres he was reared, enjoying the excellent facili- ties for education presented by the schools of that district, and assisting in carrying on the farm. On attaining his majority in 1871, he felt an inclination to investigate this portion of the country, and with that end in view came to the Red River Valley, in company with four or five others. On reaching Georgetown, Clay county, Minnesota, they there left their teams and after crossing the river, started on foot, northward, with the intention of only going a day or two's journey, but continued on until they reached Ft. Garry, now Winnipeg, Manitoba. On their way back they took the Minnesota side of the river, and having but three or four days' supply of provisions, relying upon re- placing them on their route, and finding a deserted country, but four settlers within a distance of 200 miles, suffered for want of something to eat. The last three days their only food was one prairie chicken which they

managed to kill, which was divided among the party. After a hard trip, which lasted three weeks, they reached Georgetown in a ·sorry condition and disgusted with the coun- try and their experience there. At that time there was not a building in Moorhead or Fargo, the few people in that vicinity living in tents some four or five miles north of those points, waiting to see where the coming rail- road would cross the river, before taking their claims.

The subject of this memoir returned to Allamakee county, Iowa, where he was em- ployed for about four years in general farm labor, or whatever he found to his advantage to do, but in the fall of 1875, wishing to supplement his elementary education by a more extended course, he entered the Wau- kon Seminary, at the seat of justice of that county, and thoroughly availing himself of its advantages, remained there for two years The two succeeding years he spent in teach- ing school in Iowa, but in 1879 removed to Lake Park, Becker county, Minnesota, where he was employed in the village school. He continued "to teach the young idea how to shoot " in that locality until August, 1880, at which date he came to Polk county, and took a homestead in the town of Garfield, then just set off and organized as a civil township. In the fall of that year he also engaged in the wheat trade at Beltrami, but made his home upon his farm, where he remained until 1882, serving as county com- missioner from that district, chairman of the town board, and assessor.

Entering the employ of the Pillsbury & Hubbard Elevator Company, in August, 1882, Mr. Christianson went to Alexandria, Doug- las county, where he had charge of the elevator belonging to that company. In March, 1883, the corporation transferred him to Fargo, where he remained in superinten- dence of their business until August, 1885, when, dissolving his connection with the

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company, he came to Crookston. In com- pany with H. L. Malgaard, he embarked in the loan, real estate and insurance business, and remained in partnership with that gentlemen until March, 1886, when Ole O. Christianson, the brother of our subject, purchased the interest of Mr. Malgaard, and the present firm was formed.

At the fall election of 1886, Mr. Christian- son was elected to the office of judge of the probate court, and performing the duties of that position to the eminent satisfaction of the people of the community, was nominated by acclamation at the convention in 1888, and re-elected his own successor by a hand- some majority. He has always been thor- oughly identified with the republican party, and has been a stanch supporter of its principles. Socially he is an active and prominent member of Crookston lodge, No. 78, A. O. U. W.

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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 32

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