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 40

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 40
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 40

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In 1883 Mr. Erwin was married to Miss Hattie Munger, of Paw Paw, Michigan, the daughter of Rev. William Munger, a clergy-

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man of the Baptist church. They have one daughter-May.

Mr. Erwin is deeply interested in the financial welfare of Fergus Falls, has numer- ous business interests and many financial and social connections which bind him to this place. He is vice-president of the Fer- gus Falls Electric Light and Power Company, which corporation he helped to organize in 1887. Politically he affiliates with the democratic party, and is a .Mason, and one of the leading business men of Fergus Falls and vicinity. He has purchased a fine resi- dence on Cleveland avenue.

AMES NISBET. A large percentage of the most enterprising and valuable citizens which make up the population of the Red River Valley consist of Canadians. They are a race proverbial for their integrity, industry and enterprise, and the remarkably rapid growth and development of the now famous Red River Regions is due to a large extent to these traits of its citizens. James Nisbet, whose name heads this article, a resi- dent of section 24, Huntsville township, Polk county Minnesota, is a Canadian by birth, and is an excellent representative of the race from which he springs. He is one of the most prominent farmers of the locality in which he lives, and is rated as one of the most suc- cessful and substantial citizens of Polk county. Mr. Nisbet was born in Lanark county, Canada, on the 7th of June, 1847 and is a son of William and Christina (Lindsay) Nis- bet. The parents were natives of Scotland, but settled in Canada at an early day and were pioneers there. James Nisbet was reared and educated in the Province of his birth, receiving the same training as to integ- rity and industry that characterizes his nationality. He left home at about twenty years of age, when he went into the

"lumber camps," and for about nine years was engaged in lumbering, principally on the Chippewa river in Wisconsin. At the expiration of that time, in 1875, he came to Polk county, Minnesota, and settled where he has since lived. At the time of his arri- val he took eighty acres as a homestead, and entered 160 acres with "half-breed script." He has, however, since purchased additional land until he now owns 400 acres, compris- ing one of the most valuable farins in that region. His residence is one of the finest in the township, and his building and other im- provements are a credit to his enterprise. He has always taken an active interest in all official and other matters affecting the wel- fare of this region, and he may justly be termed one of the leading citizens of Polk county.

Mr. Nisbet was married on the 17th of February, 1880, to Miss Christine Morrow, a daughter of William and Margaret (Geddes) Morrow. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of the following-named chil- dren - Margaret Eveyln, William, James and Myrtle Christena.

The township in which Mr. Nisbet lives was named Nisbet in honor of the Nisbet brothers.

ATHAN B. UFFORD, who, at this writing, is the postmaster at Herman, Grant county, Minnesota, is a pioneer of Minnesota. He is a native of Franklin county, Vermont, born on the 30th of July, 1832, and is a son of Albert and Clara (Buck) Ufford, who were also natives of the same State. The father died there in 1886, and the widow still lives upon the old homestead. Albert Ufford and wife were the parents of five boys and one girl - Nathan B., John, Harry S., Samuel, Zaddock and Paulina M. Zaddock enlisted in the Second Vermont

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Infantry, veteranized, rosc to the rank of sergeant - major, and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness. Samuel served for three years in the First Vermont Cavalry. He is now book-keeper for the Winona Plow Company, at Winona, Minnesota.

N. B. Ufford, our present subject, spent his school days in his native county in Ver- mont. In 1850 he came to Minnesota, and settled at Long Prairie, in Todd county, Minnesota, with his uncle, David Olmsted. The latter is a familiar name in Minnesota history, and, although he is noticed at length elsewhere in this volume, it will be of inter- est in this connection to note some of the most salient features in the history of his life. David Olmsted was an Indian trader, and pushed out into the very heart of Min- nesota early in Territorial times, and many years before the advent of actual settlers. Indeed, in 1850, when Mr. Ufford joined his uncle in Todd county, there were but very few settlers west of the Mis- sissippi river. David Olmsted afterward became prominent in Territorial and State affairs He published the first daily paper at St. Paul; was the first mayor of the city, and was president of the first Terri- torial council. It is with pleasure we refer the reader to the sketch of his life elsewhere in this ALBUM. Mr. Ufford, after leaving his uncle, went back to the New England States, but shortly afterward returned to Minnesota, and for many years made his home in Winona county, living there from 1854 until 1882. He was engaged in the mercantile business for a number of years ; was post- master under the Buchanan and also the Lincoln administrations, and also for several years was book-keeper in the wholesale grocery of S. C. White. He also served for six years as county auditor of Winona county, and for some time carried on the real estate and insurance business. In 1882 he came to Grant county, Minnesota, and

engaged in the general mercantile trade at Norcross. Later he removed to Herman, and in October, 1885, received the appoint- ment of postmaster, and still retains the office. He is also notary public and justice of the peace. Mr. Ufford has extensive prop- erty interests in Grant county, and owns (in Elbow Lake township) one of the finest tracts of land in the Park Regions.

Our subject was married in August, 1860, to Miss Caroline F. Jones, and they are the parents of four children-Albert, John, Clara M. and Helen. Mrs. Ufford was a native of Indiana and a daughter of Dr. W. C. Jones, an eminent physician and surgeon, located at Milan, Illinois.

In political matters Mr. Ufford is a dem- ocrat.

YRUS S. ALLEN is the manager of the North western Telephone Exchange of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He is a native of Akron, Ohio, born February 26, 1851, and is the son of Edward and Jane (Buskirk) Allen, natives of New York City.

The father was an artist, and followed that employment throughout his life. In 1847 the family came to Ohio, where the father engaged in professional duties until his death, which occurred in 1860. The mother is still living in Akron, Ohio. The father held many positions of trust during his life in the Eastern States and after coming to Ohio. In the latter State for many years he held the office of justice of the peace, which position he held at the time of his death. In the father's family there were five children to grow to manhood-Samuel L., Francis A., William E., Collins H. and Cyrus S. The father always voted the democratic ticket.

The subject of our sketch spent his early years at home attending school, and at thir- teen years of age went to work in a pottery,

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in which he was employed for two years. He then commenced at the cabinet business, in which line he worked for six months, then later went to work in a bookbindery, where he found employment for another six months. At the end of this time he found employ- ment as office boy and clerk for the ma- chinery firm of Altman, Miller & Co., manufacturers of what is known as the Buckeye Mower and Reaper at Akron, Ohio. He continued with this firm for ten years, at the end of which time he turned his attention to the manufacture of electric bells and alarms, in which line he continued for two years. Then he was engaged in build- ing telephone exchanges in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and after two years spent in this employment he engaged with other companies in the telephone business. In conjunction with this line he has done a gen- eral electric business up to the present time.

He came to Fergus Falls June 25, 1885.

In 1871 Mr. Allen was married to Miss Frances A. Packer, of Western Star, Ohio, the daughter of Richard and Hannah (Owry) Packer. Her father was a native of Eng- land and her mother of Ohio. Mr. Packer was a merchant at the time of his death, but formerly had been engaged in the manufact- ure of threshing machines at Wadsworth, Ohio. He had a family of four children- Charles, Richard, Frances A. and Maria L. The father died in 1864, and the mother is now living with her daughter at - Fergus Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have two living children - George C. and Samuel L. Mrs. Allen taught penmanship for some time in- Ohio, and has been copyist for various offices in that State. She is an active mem- ber of the Christian church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Allen are graduates of the Union Tele- graph College at Akron, Ohio, from which institution they received their diplomas in 1870. Mrs. Allen was for some time teacher of penmanship in that institution.

In politics Mr. Allen affiliates with the democratic party. He is a man of push and business ability, and stands well among the business men of Fergus Falls.

NDREW EIKEN, register of deeds of Polk county, Minnesota, and one of Crookston's most enterprising, progressive and thorough young business men, merits a prominent place in a work of this character. A resident of the city since 1881, he has nearly all the time been connected with mer- cantile circles, and established a reputation for probity and fair dealing which, coupled with his well known business tact, has made him well and favorably known.

Mr. Eiken first saw the light April 27, 1860, in Houston county, Minnesota, and is the son of Torgus and Gunhild Eiken. Receiving the rudiments of his education in his youth at the district schools of his native county, at the age of fifteen he entered the Norwegian Lutheran College at Decorah, Winneshiek county, Iowa, one of the best educational institutions in that State, with its nine professors, its 150 to 200 pupils and its magnificent building in its extensive grounds. There the subject of this sketch remained, steadily engaged in climbing the road to knowledge, until 1880, when he returned to the parental farm. Resting from his mental labors, he remained at home, helping carry on the paternal acres, until the following year, when, in company with his brothers, Germond and Kittel T., he came to Crook- ston. Under the firm name and style of Eiken Brothers, the young men at once established a hardware store, and soon as- sumed their proper place in the business circles of the village. Andrew remained a member of this firm until the fall of 1886, when he was nominated and elected to the office of register of deeds, which post he filled

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for two years, and was re-elected his own successor in November, 1888. His popularity as an office holder is only second to his suc- cess as a merchant, and it only depends upon himself how wide his sphere of action may reach.

Mr. Eiken was united in marriage Sep- tember 26, 1882, with Miss Elsie C. Berg- land, a native of Madison, Dane county, Wisconsin, and daughter of Christen and Elsie O. Bergland. Mr. and Mrs. Eiken are the parents of three children - Theodore E., Amanda and Clara M.

HARLES B. HILL, the subject of this biographical sketch, is the proprietor of the livery and sale stable at Moorhead, Minnesota, and is one of the leading business men of Clay county.

He is a native of Cass county, Michigan, born May 27, 1853. His parents were Wil- lard and Keisa (Ingling) Hill, the father being a native of Vermont and the mother of Ohio, she is still living in Michigan, but her husband died in 1856.

Charles B. is the only one living except his mother. He spent his youthful days in Michigan on the farm and in the school-room. When old enough he followed farming, con- tinuing in Michigan until 1879, then came to Moorhead, Minnesota and there engaged in farming, keeping at the same until 1888. He purchased his livery stable, however, in 1886 and operated it in connection with his farm. He runs the only livery stable in Moorhead, but supplies every reasonable demand made upon him in way of good turnouts. In 1886 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Clay county. He is also president of the driving park association. He owns considerable city property, including his house and two lots, besides outside real estate.

In his political choice he favors the demo- cratic party. He belongs to the order of Odd-Fellows, of which he is a prominent member and in good standing.

Mr. Hill was married in 1873, to Miss Jen- nie McKenney of Michigan. They have but one child living-Charles E., and also an adopted daughter-Clara M.

Mr. Hill has always taken an active part in all public affairs, and may well be classed among the most prominent business men of the place, liberal and enterprising, every move calculated to benefit either the city or surrounding country receives his active sup- port and co-operation.

LI S. NYE. Among the farming com- munity of the Park Regions of Min- nesota none deserve better mention than the gentleman whose name heads this article, a resident of section 8, Logan township, Grant county, Minnesota. Mr. Nye is a native of New York State, born in Rens- selaer county on the 4th of November, 1826. He is a son of Benjamin B. and Betsie (Maxon) Nye, who were natives of the Em- pire State, where they lived and died. The father of our subject was a farmer in his native State, and during part of his life fol- lowed boating on the Erie canal. They were the parents of five children, named in the following order-Rachel, Ann, Horace, Har- riette and Eh.

Eli S. Nye, the subject of this article, spent his school days in his native State, leaving the school-room at the age of twenty- one years. He attended the Alfred Univer- sity for three terms, and, after finishing his education, engaged in the tanning business. After five or six years in this vocation, Mr. Nye removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1879, engaged in farming. In 1879 he went to Grant county,

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Minnesota, and took a homestead of 160 acres on section 8, Logan township. He at once began improvements, cultivating the soil and putting up substantial building im- provements, and generally improving the place. He has since continued to reside on his farm, and devotes his attention, exclu- sively to general farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Nye' was united in marriage on the 23d of December, 1853, to Miss Cornelia P. Sweet, a native of New York, and a daugh- ter of Spencer Sweet, a farmer of the Em- pire State. Mr. and Mrs. Nye have been blessed with one child-Ernest, now a farmer of Logan township, Grant county, Minne- sota. Mr. Nye is a man of the utmost honor and integrity, highly esteemed by all who bear his acquaintance. He has held the offices of road overseer, chairman of the board of supervisors, supervisor and justice of the peace. He is a republican in politics.

LBERT SUNDERHAUF is the effi- cient auditor of the county of Rich- land, North Dakota. He is a native of Leipzig, Saxony, Germany, where he was born October 6, 1860.

Mr. Sunderhauf's parents were Christian and Mary A. (Lichtenauer) Sunderhauf, both natives of Germany. The father was a com- mission merchant, and followed that busi- ness throughout his life. He died in 1875. He was a soldier in the German war of 1848, and was one of the prominent and wealthy men of that country. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He had two children - Albert and Elizabeth.

Albert remained at home attending school until he was seventeen years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the general colonial mercantile business. Three years were spent by him in this line of employment, and, in 1881, he came to America, settling

in Telfair county, Georgia, where for a few months he worked on the railroad. Here he was taken sick, and for two months lay at the hospital. As soon as he was well enough to leave, he went to New York, stop- ping at Williamsburg. After a few months' stay in that place he went to Albany, New York, where he found work on the canal. When navigation closed, in the fall of 1882, he went to New York City, where he re- mained until spring. He then came West, stopping in Clay county, Minnesota, where he worked on a farm until in September, removing at that time to Wahpeton, North Dakota, where he chopped wood for a time. October 6, 1883, he was appointed deputy auditor of Richland county, and in 1885 was elected auditor, which office he still holds.

Mr. Sunderhauf was married in 1885 to Miss Henrietta Bessie, daughter of Adolph Bessie, of Wahpeton, Dakota. Two chil- dren have blessed this union - Marion and Rosa.

The subject of our sketch has purchased city property in Wahpeton, and owns a fine residence on Sixth street, where he now lives. In political faith he is with the democratic party. He is a leading Knight of Pythias, and is a member of the Order of Druids. Mr. Sunderhauf is one of the lead- ing and representative citizens of his town and county.

OHN A. McKAY is a member of the firm of Mckay & Thoreson, dealers in groceries and provisions, Alexandria, Minne- sota. Mr. Mckay is a native of Ontario, Canada, born in 1837, and is the son of John and Rachel (Maxwell) Mckay, who were both natives of Scotland. The father came to Canada in 1821, and lived and died in the city of Perth, where he was honored and

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esteemed by his fellow-citizens. He held the position of postmaster-general and many other offices, and was the only British officer located in that part of Canada. He was a captain in the British army and led the Sev- enty-second and Seventy-eighth Corps of English troops at the battle of Waterloo. He had many degrees of honor conferred on him by the British government. The father died in 1839 and the mother departed this life in 1861. They had four children, two of whom are now living-Alexander, who was a lawyer in West Virginia. His. prop- erty was taken by the confederates in the Civil War and he was taken prisoner. His brother and friends have been able to find no trace of him since his capture. He either died in prison or was killed by the enemy. Another member of the family, James, is now living in Dakota. He is the son of Mrs. McKay by a second marriage.

John A., the subject of our sketch, spent his early life on a farm. At sixteen years of age he went to work upon the river Clyde and also spent some time on the river Grand, in Canada, then later came to the State of Wisconsin, where he worked in the river trade on the Willow and Apple rivers. He followed this means of obtaining a liveli- hood for about eleven years. In 1870 he came to Douglas county, Minnesota, took a homestead within the city limits of the city of Alexandria and bad a log house built upon it, in which he lived for some five years. He then built a nice house and a fine barn. Mr. McKay has seen hard times since coming to this country, and has known what it is to be without money. On coming to Alexandria the only cash he had was twenty-five cents in paper money. He had to pawn his wedding coat for board over night and the next day.

From these small beginnings Mr. McKay has risen to be one of the solid, prosperous citizens of Alexandria. He is the only brick maker in or around the city, manufacturing

all the brick used here on his farm. He has done an extensive business in this line for the last ten years, employing continually from ten to twelve men. Besides this he engaged in farming and in running a busi- ness in the village. He owns a good place of business on Sixth avenue and a building on Main street, two doors south of Walker's brick block. Mr. Mckay's business ventures have been many and of various kinds. In 1877 he engaged in the furniture business, following the same with good success for eight or nine years. The winters of 1885, '86 and 'S7 he spent in California specu- lating in land, in which business he made considerable money. His present business was started the 25th of September, 1SSS.

Mr. McKay was married in 1869 to Miss Anna Hainor, of Pennsylvania. They have eleven children - William W., Maud R., John S., Roy C., Mabel, Florence, Ronald, Andrew H., Henry J: B., Sherman B. and Annie B.

Mr. McKay is a republican in politics, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. In polit- ical and business circles he is prominent. He was trustee for the Baptist church for a number of years. Heis acknowledged to be one of the most indefatigable workers in any line that will benefit Alexandria, and is at the front in every effort to improve the city. He has held the office of justice of the peace for several years, and, in fact, has always taken an active and prominent part in all public affairs.

ALLACE B. DOUGLAS. The subject of the present article is the county attorney for Clay county, Minnesota, and is one of the most able and prominent members of the bar in the Red River Valley.

He was born September 21, 1852, in Lewis county, New York. His parents were Asahel M. and Alma E. (Miller) Douglas, natives of

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the same county and State, as our subject. The father was an extensive farmer and sold out in the spring of 1867, coming west to Illinois, settling at Momence, Kankakee county of that State, where he remained until his death in 1869. The mother died in 1886. Asahel's father was Israel, who traced his forefathers back to 1660, when they came from Scotland and made a home in Massa- chusetts. He became a very popular and influential man of his day and State. Isreal was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and followed farm life in times of peace. Asahel M. had a family of three children, two of whom are yet living ; they were twins-our subject, Wallace B., and William A. The latter is now foreman in the large wholesale house of Barrett & Barrett, Chicago, Illinois.

Our subject was reared on the farm until he was fourteen years of age, receiving a fair education. He accompanied his parents to Illinois, where he took a position with the C. E. & I. Railway Company, which he held a year. He then returned to the East and attended school at Cazenovia Seminary for a year, then returned to Illinois, accepting a position in the banking house of J. B. Dur- ham & Brother at Momence. After a year in the bank, he commenced the study of law at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he graduated in 1875, locating at Chicago, Illinois, in June, 1875. He followed his chosen profession until 1883, when he thought he saw better things in store in the West, hence came to Moorhead. It should be here stated that one reason for coming to the last-named city was his failing health. In January, 1884, he was appointed city attorney, holding the same until May, 1888, when he declined a re-appointment. He was elected in 1886 and re-elected in 1888 county attorney for Clay county, which office he still holds.

Mr. Douglas was married in 1881 to Miss Ella M. Smith, a native of Channahon, Illinois, and a daughter of C. Smith. By

this union there have been two children- Harold and Leila L.

In political matters Mr. Douglas is a stanch republican. He is a member of both the Odd-Fellows and Masonic fraternities and stands high both as a lawyer and a citizen in the locality in which he lives. He has devoted his attention exclusively to legiti- mate law practice, and has won a high posi- tion at the bar.

OHN H. STAAL is one of the leading citi- zens of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. He was a native of Denmark, where he was born in 1835. His father was Hans Staal who was a miller by trade, and had charge of extensive milling interests in his native land.

Mr. Staal remained in his native land until 1865, when he emigrated to this country, settling in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he engaged in boot and shoe making, to which trade he had served an apprenticeship of five years in Denmark. He remained in Minneapolis for fourteen years, part of the time engaged in the mercantile business and part of the time in running a saloon. He then came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he purchased a fine farm. This was in 1878, and after running the farm for three years, he sold out and moved to Fergus Falls, the county seat of that county. He pur- chased forty acres of land adjoining the city on the south, where he put up his present residence, and where he lives a retired life. Mr. Staal has traveled extensively in the United States, having visited California, and many other localities in the West and East. In 1866 he made an extensive trip through the Park Region of the Northwest, in the fur business. There were no settlers in this region at that time, and his operations were confined to the half-breeds who were

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scattered here and there over this country. He purchased $400 worth of furs, which he carried by wagon to St. Paul. He made three trips, and was successful each time.

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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 40

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