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 41

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 41
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 41

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In 1863 Mr. Staal was united in marriage to Miss Christena Nelson, a native of Den- mark, where they were married.

Politically, Mr. Staal affiliates with the democratic party. He is a careful, conserva- tive man, and out of his numerous invest- ments has acquired a considerable fortune. He is well known, as a moral, upright citi- zen, and is universally respected.

An interesting point in John Staal's his- tory, is the fact that he served in the regu- lar army of Denmark. He enlisted in 1863 and served until August 12, 1864. He par- ticipated in eleven battles against the Ger- man army and was taken prisoner April 18, 1864.

ORA W. GIFFORD, a prominent member of the farming community of Grant county, Minnesota, is a resident of section 24, Roseville township, where he successfully operates a well-tilled tract of land comprising 160 acres. He is a native of New York State, born in Cayuga county, on the 17th of November, 1838, and is the son of Stephen and Mary (Bragg) Gifford, natives of New York State also. They were the parents of twelve children, the sub- ject of this memoir being the sixth.

Coral Gifford spent his school days prin- cipally in Ohio and Wisconsin. He left school at the age of seventeen, and from that time until he was twenty-one he helped his father operate the home farm. In Sep- tember, 1862, he enlisted in the Seventeenth Wisconsin Infantry, Seventeenth Army Corps. Going in as a private and being pro- moted to the rank of a corporal while in the service, he served until June, 1866, when he

was honorably discharged at Madison, Wis- consin. He was in many engagements and skirmishes, including the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Vicksburg, Atlanta, with Sherman in the famous " march to the sea," and the bat- tle of Jonesburg. He was wounded in the left side in the battle of Corinth, and was confined to the St. Louis Hospital for some time. After his discharge Mr. Gifford remained in Wisconsin for a few years, engaged in farming. In 1870 he removed to Mitchell county, Iowa, where he remained for seven years. In the year 1877 he set- tled in Grant county, Minnesota, engaging in farming on section 24, Roseville town- ship, where he has since lived. He is en- gaged in general farming and stock raising, and is rated as one of the most successful and substantial farmers in the county.

Mr. Gifford was married in the month of November, 1859, to Miss Margaret E. Kline, a native of Pennsylvania. They are the parents of the following named children - Mary A., Myran S., Coral E., Frank A., Harry A., Carrie M., Jacob E., Burt, Ira, Grace and Ethel. Ethel died when about one and a half years old. Mary is the wife of Mr. Shearer, of Charles city, Iowa.

Mr. Gifford is one of the representative citizens of his township, and has held the offices of treasurer and justice of the peace for a number of years. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is one of the pioneers of the township. A man of the utmost honor and integrity, he deserves the esteem and respect in which he is held.

DWARD R. HYSER, the proprietor of the Hyser House at Breckenridge, Minnesota, is a native of Massachusetts. He was born in Bristol county, in 1853, and is the son of Solomon and Barbara (Hess) Hyser, who were natives of Germany. The parents

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came to this country at an early day and settled in Bristol, Massachusetts, where the fatlier worked as a day laborer until 1868, when he moved to Minnesota. He settled on a homestead in Wright county, Minnesota, where he remained until his death, in 1870. The mother died in 1858 in Massachusetts, leaving three children-Robert, who died in 1876; George, who is married to Miss Alice Bowen, by whom two children have been born - Maud and George. Mrs. Alice (Bowen) Hyser is the daughter of Timothy Bowen, and is living in Minneapolis, Minne- sota, where George Hyser is engaged in the hotel business. And the third child, Edward R., the subject of the present article.

Edward Hyser attended the common schools in his native State until he was fifteen years of age, when he came, with his parents, to Minnesota. He, with his brothers, opened a hotel in Wright county, keeping pace with the railroad which at that time was being built through that section of the State. They carried on business in this manner, boarding, principally, the employés of the railroad, until 1871. In the fall of 1871 the three brothers opened a hotel in Breckenridge, which they continued to operate until the death of Robert in 1876, after which sad event the surviving brothers, George and Edward, remained in partnership until 1881. In 1881 George removed from Breckenridge, and our subject continued in the same busi- ness until 1883, when the old hotel was torn down and his present one, opposite the Mani- toba Railroad depot, was erected. In 1873 Mr. Hyser purchased a farm of 320 acres, about two miles from the village, which he continues to operate, and, in connection with his farming interests, runs a dairy.

Mr. Hyser was married in 1881 to Miss Susan Abendschien, and this union has been blessed with three children-Louise E., Alice C., and Hattie P. Mrs. Hyser is the daugh- ter of George and Christina (Rathgeber)

Abendschien, natives of Germany. They came to this country in 1878 and settled in Breckenridge, Minnesota, where the father died in 1879. The mother is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Hyser. Hr. Hyser, the subject of this article, takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to county or State, and is one of the solid business men of Wilkin county. In political matters he affiliates with the republican party. He and his family are members of the Con- gregational church.

LEXANDER RUNNING, of the village of Ada, is one of the early settlers of Norman county, Minnesota, having located in this portion of the Red River Valley on the 13th of June, 1878, and has since then been closely identified with its interests, both officially and as a private citizen.

Mr. Running, of whom this sketch is writ- ten, was born in Racine county, Wisconsin, in November, 1846, and is the son of Ole A. and Bergeta (Thompson) Running. When he was but four years old the family removed to Vernon county, in the same State, and were among the pioneers of that region, the first settler having preceded them about five years. The father of our subject took up a claim in the thick and heavy timber that then covered all that part of the Badger State, and having by hard work hewed himself out a farm, made that his home until 1862. During that year a more northward course was taken by the family, who settled in Dunn county, in what is now known as Run- ning Valley, named after them, they being the first settlers in that section of the county. There they suffered the hardships and incon- veniences always attendant upon frontier life and the general isolation of the settlers. Their nearest neighbor was some four miles distant. On the farm that he had founded

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the second time in the wilderness the elder Mr. Running made his home for three years and was then called away to a brighter land beyond the grave, and a year later he was followed by his beloved wife.

The subject of our sketch received his primary education in such schools as the early date of the settlements afforded, and assisted his father in carrying on the farm. By assiduous study he soon made up for the paucity of schools in that region, and soon acquired a fair store of knowledge, which he has since much increased by judicious read- ing. On the death of his father, he being the eldest of nine children, Alexander took charge of the homestead and became the head of the family. He remained on the farm until 1873, when he removed to the village of Colfax, in the same county, and there entered into the agricultural implement business. When the township of Colfax was organized in 1867 his ability was recog- nized, and, although but twenty years old, he was elected its first town clerk. He was afterwards elected to the position of chair- man of the board of supervisors, and remained in that position until leaving that part of the county. He was by this a mem- ber of the county board, and took an active interest in the business of the county.

In the summer of 1878 Mr. Running came to the Red River Valley and filed on a claim some ten miles west of Ada and commenced to open a farm. In the fall of 1879 he was chosen one of the board of commissioners of Polk county, of which this then formed a part, and served as such until the setting off of Norman county and its subsequent organi- zation. Before the latter event, however, Mr. Running, after two years' residence in his homestead, removed to the village of Ada and went into the wheat trade.

The agitation for the division of Polk county found in our subject a warm sup- porter and an energetic worker, and on the

success of that measure-a success in which he was one of the most active agents-and the organization of Norman county, in the fall of 1881, Mr. R. was appointed first audi- tor of the county. He was re-elected his own successor in the autumn of 1882, and held that responsible position until January, 1885. On the expiration of his official duties he took charge of the books of the well- known firm of Larson & Lystad, and has continued in their employ ever since. All this time he has, however, carried on his farm, which now embraces some 240 acres, all of which is under cultivation and under his own management and supervision.

Mr. Running is an ardent supporter of the principles of the prohibition movement, and takes a great interest in the suppression of the liquor traffic, and has helped, materially, in driving it out of Ada. He is a member of the present board of education of the village and manifests great devotion to the cause of the schools.

Mr. Running was united in marriage on the 27th of March, 1869, with Miss Christine Salverson, and by this union they have had a family of six children-Henry O., Bertha, Clara, Edwin A., Arthur and Clarence. Both he and his wife are members of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church, and are active workers in the cause of religion.

OHN S. IRISH, a retired merchant of Moorhead, Minnesota, deserves special mention in this connection.

He was born in Cumberland county, Maine, at the town of Bridgton, January 7, 1831. He is the son of Dean and Mehitable (Small) Irish, also natives of Maine. The father followed lumbering all his lifetime. They had a family of seven children : Frank- lin and Albert were in the army, and both died. The remainder are also deceased,

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except John S. and Susan, now Mrs. Putnam Our subject's grandfather, on the father's side, was Obediah, a native of England. He was also a lumberman, and had the honor of being a Revolutionary soldier.

Our subject was brought up on a farm, and was somewhat familiar with lumbering. He followed this sort of life until he reached the age of twenty-one years, he then went to Pennsylvania, remained a year, and then went to Wisconsin in 1854, engaging in lumbering business on the Saint Croix River ; he also fol- lowed steamboating in that section. In all he lived there ten years. In 1867 he came to Minnesota, stopping at Taylor's Falls. Here he engaged at steamboat building for H. C. Folsom. He worked there until 1875, then went to Grand Forks, Dakota Terri- tory, where he acted as foreman for N. W. Kittson & Co., builders of steamboats. He remained there two years, and then came to Moorhead, Minnesota, following the same branch of business until 1883. At this time he engaged in the grocery business, first in Fargo then in Moorhead. He continued in trade until the autumn of 1887, when he quit business. He now lives a retired life. He purchased a fine home on Kennedy and Sec- ond streets, which he still occupies. He also owns a fine store building on Fourth street, which he now rents.

In 1858 he was married to Miss Emma J. Abbott, a native of Oneida county, New York. She is the daughter of J. F. Abbott, now a resident of Moorhead and aged eighty- one years. He was formerly engaged in the hotel business in Polk county, Wisconsin.

Mr. and Mrs. Irish are the parents of three sons - Frank E., Fred and Hersey.

In political matters our subject is a repub- lican. He has nearly all of his life had control of a number of workmen, doing con- tract work and ship building. One marked feature of his eventful life is that he has ever been benevolent in times of need and

distress, and by reason of this virtue has won a large circle of warm, true friends, who revere his name.

ATHIAS .P. PHILLIPPI, one of the _prominent furniture dealers of the Red River Valley, is a resident of the village of Barnesville, Clay county, Minnesota, where he handles all kinds of house furni- ture and also carries a full line of undertak- er's goods. He is a native of Germany, born in 1852, and is the son of John and Kate Phillippi, natives, also, of the kingdom of Germany.

Mr. Phillippi, the subject of this biograph- ical sketch, remained in his native land attending the common schools of his birtli- place until he was eleven years of age. At that period in life he emigrated to the United States, with his parents, and settled in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, where he remained until he was sixteen years of age. At that time (1868) he learned the carpen- ter's trade, being three years apprenticed to that work. After learning his trade he worked in different parts of Wisconsin, and continued as a journeyman for twelve years. In 1881 he removed to Minnesota, and, in July of that year, settled in Barnesville, where he has since remained. When he first located there he engaged in contracting and building, which he continued for three years. In 1884 he erected his present business build- ing and put in a stock of furniture, being at that time the first and only store of the kind in Barnesville. In 1885, when the new town was incorporated, Mr. Phillippi moved his building and goods over to the new town site and has since been located there. He does an extensive business, having almost all of the trade of the two villages. In addition to his furniture business he handles all kinds of farm machinery, McCormick

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binders, plows, fanning mills and everything needed by the farming community. He is a leading citizen and business man of the vil- lage of Barnesville, and has held the offices of deputy sheriff for four years and town clerk for one term. He is a representative and esteemed resident of Clay county, and is a stanch republican in his political views.

Mr. Phillippi was married November 15, 1873, to Miss Lizzie Kirschmer, of Buffalo county, Wisconsin. Her father was a farmer of that vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Phillippi have been the parents of four children, only one of whom, however, is now living, named Mathias.

R. WILLIAM T. DUNCAN is junior member of the firm of McLean & Duncan, practicing physicians and surgeons of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minne- sota. He is a native of Canada, and was born January 6, 1856.

The Doctor's parents were John and Caro- line (Holden) Duncan, the former a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and the latter a native of New York State. The father, during a great many years of his life, engaged in the dairy business, but has now retired and is living at Granby, Canada. John Duncan's parents were William and Margaret (Smith) Duncan, both of whom were natives of Glas- gow, Scotland. They came to Canada in 1821 and there engaged extensively in farming. Dr. Duncan's mother's father was Orson Holden, a native of the State of New York, and a farmer by occupation.

John Duncan, the father of the subject of our sketch, has a family of five children : George H., Margaret L., now Mrs. P. W. Taber; John C., Dr. William T., and James. Mr. Duncan was a prominent citizen of the place of his residence and held various offices of trust. For some years he was mayor

of the town of Granby, Canada, and was also town assessor, occupying other positions of honor at different times. He was one of the leading men of that section. His son, John C., now holds the office of mayor of Granby. Mr. Duncan had three brothers in the service of the United States during the war of the rebellion ; one of these brothers died in the service. The family have been great church people, and have been warm supporters of all projects in an educational line. The grandparents on the father's side, through several generations, have all been members of the Congregational church.

The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm, receiving his early training in the district schools until nineteen years of age. He was then sent to the Granby grammer school in Granby, Canada, and later attended the Braeside Academy at Montreal. He completed his course in that school and later attended the McGill College, and later the McGill Medical College, gradu- ating therefrom in 1882. After this, for one year, he was house physician at the Mon- treal General Hospital. About one year after his graduation he came to Fergus Falls, and, in company with Dr. T. H. McLean, com- menced the practice of his profession. He bought a neat residence on Cascade street, in which he now lives.

Dr. Duncan was married in 1886 to Miss Eva G. Herrick, the daughter of John and Ann (Chalmers) Herrick, of Canada. One child has blessed this union-John K.

Dr. Duncan has become one of the lead- ing citizens of Fergus Falls. He is a mem- ber of the city council, and is president of the board of examining surgeons for pen- sions in this district. He also belongs to the State Medical Society. For some time he has held the appointment of surgeon of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad Company. Politically he believes in the principles of the democratic party. He is a

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leading Knight of Pythias, and in all mat- ters which tend to the improvement of the educational, social and business interests of Fergus Falls, he is a leading factor. This partnership has built up an extensive practice.

ON. J. H. MILLER is the present sheriff of Richland county, North Dakota. He was born on the 25th day of August, 1844, in Oneida county, New York.

The parents of the subject of our sketch were Asher and Catherine (Mowers) Miller, of New York. The father belonged to a sturdy family of English descent, and during most of his life followed the occupation of farming for a livelihood. In 1850 he came westward, settling in the State of Illinois, where, in Winnebago county, he became one of the early pioneers. In 1867 he removed to Grundy county, Iowa, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1868. The mother is still living in Iowa. The father served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and saw much hard service, being once severely wounded. He had a family of three children, two of whom are now living - J. H. and Julia H., twins, the latter now Mrs. Willson.

The grandfather of the subject of our sketch was Luther Miller, a native of Con- necticut, and by occupation a farmer and lumberman. In early life he came to Oneida county, New York, where he lived until his death. He was of English descent, the first of the family having come to this country in the sixteenth century, settling in Connecti- cut. Luther was a soldier in the War of 1776.

Catherine Mowers, the mother of the sub- ject of our sketch, was the daughter of John Mowers, a native of New York, and a farmer by occupation. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His ancestors came from Germany.

The subject of our sketch was reared on the home farm, receiving a good education in the district schools of his neighborhood. In 1862, when eighteen years of age, he enlisted in Company C, Seventy-fourth Illinois In- fantry. For two and one-half years he remained in active service, and was wounded several times. He was twice wounded at Missionary Ridge, and at the battle of Kene- saw Mountain was shot in the left shoulder, sustaining such a severe injury that he was unable to do any work for about one year. He was honorably discharged from the army in February, 1865. His soldier-life was a life at the front and was full of the hard fortune that usually comes with such service. He was in the following battles : Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Resaca, Kenesa Mountain, Pleasant Hill, and many other engagements of minor im- portance. In 1867 he came to Iowa, settling in Grundy county, where he purchased a farm of 160 acres and turned his attention to farming. He also engaged for some years in teaching school. In 1878 he removed to Wahpeton, North Dakota, where, until 1882, he had charge of the T. L. French farm, for whom also he sold agricultural implements. In 1882 he was appointed to the office of clerk of the courts, which position he held until 1886, when he was elected sheriff of Richland county. In the fall of 1881 he was elected to represent his county in the Territorial legislature, serv- ing one term.

Mr. Miller was married in 1879 to Miss Laura Roadman, of 'Grundy county, Iowa. She was the daughter of William and Polly J. (McConnica) Roadman, natives of Pennsyl- vania. Her father came to Iowa in 1874, where for a number of years he was engaged in farming. He is now retired from active business and is living a retired life in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two children-Annie and Ida.

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In politics Mr. Miller is a stanch republi- can and since coming to Wahpeton has been one of the leaders in the affairs of that party. He has at all times enjoyed the con- fidence of his political friends, by whom he has been highly honored many times. For one year under President Arthur's adminis- tration lie held the position of postmaster, and in 1885 and 1886 was mayor of the city. Mr. Miller has engaged somewhat in buying and selling land, and at present owns a fine farm of 160 acres. He also owns two fine residences in the city. Mr. Miller has been an earnest supporter of all matters pertain- ing to the welfare of his adopted town, and has, with pride, watched the village of twenty-five inhabitants grow to the propor- tions and importance of a city. Mr. Miller is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F and the G. A. R.

J. BARNES, the senior partner in the firm of Barnes & Slocum, grocery and provision dealers, of Crookston, Minne- sota, was born in Charles City, Floyd county, Iowa, and is the son of Harrison and Eliza (Coles) Barnes. He lived with his parents from the day of his birth, April 20, 1868, until 1885, receiving his education in the superior schools of his native city. At the age of thirteen years he entered a large grocery establishment in the same place, where he remained until August 11, 1887, fully preparing himself, by acquiring a thorough knowledge of the business, for his life's work. On the last mentioned date he removed to Fargo, Dakota, where he was engaged in clerical work until June 24, 1888, when he came to Crookston, Minnesota. In company with W. E. Slocum, he bought out the stock of the bankrupt firm of Horton & Hurlburt, and embarked in business.

Both of these young men are but new comers in the city, but, by close attention to the wants of their customers, and activity and energy in catering to the tastes of the community, are fast building up for them- selves a large and popular trade.

E. SLOCUM, the junior partner of the firm above mentioned, is also a native of Charles City, Iowa, and was born January 2, 1867. He is the son of C. A. and E. L. (Wilbur) Slocum, residents of that part of the Hawkeye State. Receiving his educa- tion in the high-grade schools of the city of his birth, at the age of sixteen years he entered the postoffice of that place as a clerk, where he remained until the spring of 1887. With a natural desire to see more of the country and start out in life for himself, he then made a trip to Kansas, but after spending the summer there returned to Charles City and entered a large dry goods establishment as clerk and salesman. There he remained until June, 1888, when he came to Crookston and joined his friend O. J. Barnes in the present business.

The firm carry full lines of staple and fancy. groceries, provisions, flour, crockery, glass- ware, wooden-ware, etc., their stock, which is one of the largest in their line in the city, invoicing some $4,500.

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ILLIAM H. SUTHERLAND, one of the leading business men of Grant county, Minnesota, has charge of the local grain business of the Northwestern Elevator Company, and conducts their elevator at Herman.

Mr. Sutherland was born in Whitehall, Washington county, New York, April 28,

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1857, and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Thaine) Sutherland. The parents were natives of New Brunswick, where they were married, and shortly afterward settled in Washington county, New York. Robert Sutherland died in that county in the spring of 1875, at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a farmer and lumberman through life, a member of the Baptist church, and a man of exemplary character. The mother is now living with her son in Herman, and is sev- enty-two years of age. Robert Sutherland and wife were the parents of seven children, three boys and four girls, as follows-J. C., George, Clara, Sarah, Katie, May and W. H. George and Clara are deceased. George was a ship carpenter and died in New York City. Clara became the wife of Samuel Barrett, and died in New York State, leav- ing a family of three children.

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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 41

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