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 42

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 42
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 42

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Our present subject, W .. H. Sutherland, spent his school days in his native county in the Empire State. At an early age he was thrown upon his own resources, and when thirteen years of age left school. From that time until he was twenty-one he was employed at boating between New York City and Canadian ports, and, upon attain- ing his majority, he removed to Indiana. There he was engaged in farming and also learned the milling business. After a sojourn of two years in the Hoosier State he went to Dallas county, Texas, where he farmed and at the same time carried on the milling business. In July, 1878, Mr. Suth- erland came to Minnesota and located at Herman, in Grant county. Since that time he has devoted his attention mostly to the milling and elevator business, and has moved about considerably. For one year he was engaged in the mercantile business at Oscar Lake, Douglas county, Minnesota ; was then engaged in the milling business in Marshall county, Dakota, for one year, when he was burned out. We next find him in a mill at

Alexandria, Minnesota, where he spent one year, and, at the expiration of that time, in 1887, he returned to Herman, where he has since remained in charge of the elevator belonging to the Northwestern Elevator Company. He is a thorough and reliable business man, and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of the locality in which he lives.

In political matters Mr. Sutherland is a democrat:

ON. CHARLES D. WRIGHT is the president of the First National Bank of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minne- sota.

Mr. Wright is a native of Addison county, Vermont, where he was born in 1850. He is the son of Ethan M. and Eliza (Bottum) Wright, both of whom were natives of .Ver- mont. The father, during the most of his life, has followed the mercantile business, in which he has been eminently successful, and out of which has accrued to him a consid- erable fortune. He is a man of large ideas and refinement, and is social and charitable in all ways. His father was Brigham Wright, who was one of the substantial farmers of the Eastern States. Ethan M. Wright had a family of three sons - William B., a banker in Vermont and associated with other prom- inent banks in the East and West ; Charles D. and George M., an attorney in New York City.

The subject of our sketch spent his early days beneath the parental roof, attending the Highland Military School of Worcester, Massachusetts, and the Rensselaer Polytech- nic Institute of Troy, New York. In 1869 he turned his steps westward and came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was asso- ciated with his uncle, George B. Wright, in surveying work for the Government. In the

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fall of 1870 he was appointed to the office of chief draughtsman in the United States sur- veyor-general's office at St. Paul, which posi- tion he retained for a period of eight years. While connected with the Government sur- vey, in 1869, and the early part of 1870, he traveled over a considerable portion of the Northwestern territory. He was in com- pany with Andrew Holes, now of Moor- head, and George G. Beardsley, of Fargo, Dakota. They had much opportunity to examine the lands in the Northwest, and located a great deal of land.

In 1878 he came to Fergus Falls, and was elected to the position of vice-president of the First National Bank of that city. At that time the bank was located in Martin's block, with Henry G. Page as president. Mr. Wright continued in the office of vice-presi- dent for five years, and in 1883 was elected to the presidency of that institution. In 1881 the stockholders of the bank built a block for their own use on the corner of Lincoln and Cascade avenues, where they continued in the banking business for three years. On January 1, 1884, they moved into their new bank building on the northeast corner of Lincoln avenue and Mill street. This is a large and imposing structure, finely built, of large proportions, it being 50x142 feet in size. In this building there are at present three stores, besides the banking offices and the United States land office, and offices in the second story. This building cost $35,000. Mr. Wright has done mnuch to improve and beautify the city of Fergus Falls. He built his present fine residence in 1879, on corner of Court and Vernon avenues, and has interested himself largely in the lands of this and other counties in the West.

In 1878 Mr. Wright was united in mar- riage to Miss Lucy S. Barney, of Malden, Massachusetts, the daughter of George T. Barney. Two children have blessed their union-George B. and Murray S.

Mr. Wright is one of the prominent citi- zens of Fergus Falls. His business connec- tions and financial interests run in many dif- ferent lines, in all of which he has been eminently successful. He is treasurer of the Fergus Falls Water Company, of which he was one of the organizers. He is also treas- urer of the gas and mill company, and holds the same position in the Fergus Falls Water Power Company. He held the office of city mayor in 1885 and 1886, and was city treas- urer for several terms. In politics he is a stanch defender of the principles of the republican party. Mr. Wright's name is a synonym of all that means success in busi- ness and prominence in the social circles of Fergus Falls.

EORGE COULTER. The subject of our present sketch is a resident of section 16, Huntsville township, Polkcounty, Minnesota, and is one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of the locality in which he lives. He was born in Canada on the 31st of January, 1856, and is a son of Christopher and Elizabeth (Lee) Coulter, who were natives of Scotland. The parents, who were from that sturdy and determined Scotch race, were among the early settlers of Canada, where, in pioneer times, they endured much privation and hardship. George, our subject, spent his childhood days in the Province of his birth, and when he was ten years old removed with his parents to Winona county, Minnesota, where he remained at home, most of the time aid- ing in the labors attendant upon carrying on the home farm, until he was twenty-one years old. When he had attained his majority he came to Polk county, Minnesota, and took a homestead on section 22, Hunts- ville township. He lived upon that farm until 1885, when he sold out and purchased

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480 acres on section 16, where he now lives. It is two miles west of the village of Mallory. He has seventy acres of timber on the place, has good building improvements and is in excellent circumstances.

Mr. Coulter was married at Grand Forks, on the 8th of May, 1882, to Miss Agnes Brown, a daughter of Aaron and Ellen (Henery) Brown. Their marriage has been blessed with two children-Margaret and George.

DWARD GRUSSENDORF, retired clergyman of the Lutheran church, is a resident of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He is a native of Germany, and was born on the 15th of July, 1823.

The early days of the subject of our sketch were spent in receiving an excellent educa- tion. He graduated from the Hanover and Gottengen universities in 1851, after which he turned his attention to teaching school, and also preaching the gospel until in 1857, when he came to America, and attended a German college at Fort Wayne, Indiana, from which he graduated in 1860. At this time he was ordained to preach the gospel, and commenced his ministry in Chicago, Illinois, in that year. He remained in Chicago for two and one-half years, and then received a call to become pastor of the Red Wing Congre- gation, in Minnesota. His pastoral labors in that place extended through a period of three years, and then he removed to Min- neiska, where he continued his pastoral labors for two years. At the end of this time he purchased a farm of 160 acres of Government land, and remained on this until 1869, when he moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota. His was the third family that settled in Fergus Falls. The other two families were Mrs. Grussendorf's brother and his brother-in-law, Henry Von Haenigsen, they having settled in this place in June,

1868. Mr. Grussendorf took 160 acres of land on the south side of the river, all of which is now inside of the city limits of Fergus Falls. Here he broke considerable of the land and built a house, and in 1878 laid out a tract of twenty acres in city lots, it being the first addition to Fergus Falls. He has also laid out another addition of forty acres on the north side of the river. In 1870 he turned his attention to other pursuits and engaged in the mercantile business. He opened the first store in the city, which he run for two years. In 1883, in company with his son Gustavus A., he opened again in the mercantile business, and continued the same for four years, at which time he sold out and has since retired from active busi- ness life. Mr. Grussendorf was the first jus- tice of the peace for the township, being elected to that place in 1870. He was one of the organizers of Busetown, in 1871. In 1882 he purchased land in Polk county, at Red Lake Falls, and laid out an addition to that city. He also bought several farms along the river near to that place. He has always taken a deep interest in the growth and prosperity of Fergus Falls and vicinity, and has always been a hearty supporter of all projects that tended to the financial growth of this locality.

Mr. Grussendorf was married, March 24, 1862, to Miss Fieda Buse, of Germany, and daughter of Carl and Liessete (Ohn) Buse Her parents came to America in 1856 and settled at Buffalo, New York, where the father engaged in the clothing business. In 1861 they came westward, settling in Red Wing, Minnesota, where he engaged in farming. There the family remained until the death of the father, which occurred in 1869. The mother died at Fergus Falls in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Grussendorf have only one son, Gustavus A.

Mr. Grussendorf has for many years affili_ ated with the republican party, and he and

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his wife and son are members of the Lutheran church. He has two dwelling-houses in the south part of the city, and owns one, in which he lives, on the north side. . Mr. Grussendorf is one of the leading citizens of Fergus Falls, . and has been a warm and ready supporter of all church enterprises and in the improve- ment of schools. He has not only encour- aged these movements by his words, but has aided materially in a financial way. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fel- low-citizens.

W. FREEMAN, who is a member of the Moorhead Merchant Tailoring Company, was born in Sweden, November 12, 1854. His parents were John and Jo- hanna (Swanson) Freeman, of Sweden. They were farmers and emigrated to America in 1872, settling in Goodhue county, Minnesota, and from there moved to Rockford, Illinois. The next change was a move to Meeker county, Minnesota, at a point six miles from Dassel. Here they farmed again. They had a family of whom the following are living-S. August, Elizabeth, John A., Cleas W., Andrew G. and Hannah N. The parents both belong to the Lutheran church, and the father is a republican in his political views.

Our subject, like most farmers' sons, did farm labor and attended school, getting a good common school education. He left home, however, at the age of twelve years, when he commenced to work at the tailor- ing business, serving five years as an appren. tice, and then worked for wages in Sweden for three years. In 1874 he crossed the ocean to America, settling at Rockford, Illi- nois, where he remained until 1882, then came to Moorhead, where he engaged in business for himself and took as his partner C. A. Allen. They continued as a firm until

May 28, 1888, when the Moorhead Tailoring Company was formed, with Mr. Freeman as its president. They carry a full line of merchant tailoring goods and employ four men to assist them.

Mr. Freeman was united in marriage in 1877 to Miss Annie M. Blomquist, of Rock- ford, Illinois. They have six children- J. H., C. W., A. M., M. L. E., D. E. H. and E. J. M.

Politically our subject is a republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, of which he is a trustee.

HARLES E. DAMPIER, M. D., one of the leading practicing physicians and surgeons of the flourishing city of Crookston, Minnesota, is a native of Waterloo, Canada, born June 5, 1854, and is the son of Edward and Charlotte (Parmelee) Dampier. In 1856 the family came to the United States, locat- ing in the town of Lemond, Steele county, Minnesota, where the father took up a pre- emption claim and engaged in the tillage of the soil. One year later they removed to Meriden township, in the same county, where the family resided until 1860. In the latter year Mr. Dampier, the elder, in search of a more eligible location, removed to Dakota county, where he found that which he was in search of, in that beautiful portion of the State,

" Where harvest mantles, fringed with prairie blooms, Trail in the sunset."

There the family found a home and there they were living when the necessities of the country's defense called for so many of the men from the Northland, whereupon the father of our subject enlisted in Hatch's Independent Battalion of Minnesota Cav- alry, and served until the close of the war, the latter portion of the time as first-lieut- enant of Company F, he having been pro-

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moted to that position for gallant conduct in the field. On receiving his discharge Mr. Dampier returned to his family in the county of Dakota, where, like Cincinnatus, he returned to his agricultural and bucolic pur- suits. He made his home in that locality, on a farm which he purchased about the time of his return near Castle Rock, until 1874, when he removed to Northfield, Rice county, and there engaged in the hotel busi- ness. After pursuing the callingof landlord for some years, in 1880, he came west again, and is now living in Fergus Falls.

Charles E. Dampier was reared upon his father's farm, and drew his primary educa- tion from the district schools of the neigh- borhood, which was supplemented by a term at the schools of Elgin, Illinois, whither he went for the purpose, and one term at Carl- ton College. In the spring. of 1875 he en- tered a drug store in Northfield, as clerk, at the same time taking up the study of medi- cine, he having a natural aptitude and liking for that profession. For eighteen months he continued in that place, steadily applying his leisure time to the books that were to lay the foundation of his future success, but, in the fall of 1876, matriculated at the med- ical department of the Michigan State Uni- versity, at Ann Arbor, from which cele- brated and noble institution of learning he was graduated in the Class of '78.

On receiving his diploma, Dr. Dampier at once went to Dell Rapids, Dakota, where he entered upon the duties of his profession, and remained there in full practice until the following spring, when, with an admirable foresight, he removed to Crookston, Minne- sota, then a small village of no more than 500 inhabitants, but in which his sagacity had discovered the germ of its future size and thrift. The doctor at once opened an office in the place, and has grown with its growth until he now has a large and lucra- tive practice. This worthy disciple of Hip-

pocrates and Galen, while attending strictly to the duties of his chosen profession, has not been able to shift entirely from his shoulders his share of the public burden. For some six years he was compelled to act as health officer of the city, but no longer occupies that position. He is the United States medical examiner for pensions, for this district, and the local surgeon of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad Company, the latter office having been filled by him for the past nine years. He is also the surgeon for the Crookston fire depart- ment.

The Doctor is a member of the State Med- ical Society, and of the Masonic fraternity. He was made a Mason in Crookston Lodge, 141, A. F. & A. M. in 1879, his being one of the three names presented on the night of the organization of that body. He is a charter member of Pierson Chapter, No. 40, R. A. M., he having been exalted in the chapter at Fergus Falls, and is now the treasurer of the chapter. The Doctor is the . owner of a fine farm of 240 acres in Polk county, which he leases to a tenant.

Dr. C. E. Dampier was united in mar- riage August 4, 1880, with Miss Estelle E. Carruth, a native of the State of New York.

ENRY O. JOHNSON, a respected farmer of Grant county, Minnesota, is a resident of Pomme de Terre township, section 36, where he is engaged in agricult- ural pursuits. He is a native of Minnesota, born in Fillmore county, on the 8th of April, 1866, and a son of Lage and Nellie (Eastenson) Johnson, of whom a sketch will be found in another part of this ALBUM. They are the parents of the following-named children-Anna M., Gea, Emelia, Josephine, Olena, Henry O., Peter L., Tilda O., Wil- helm N., Julia D. and Sophia E.

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Henry O. Johnson spent his boyhood-days in Fillmore county, Minnesota. In 1875 he came with his parents to Grant county, Minnesota, where he attended the district school in Pomme de Terre village for some time. In the fall of 1879 he entered the normal school at St. Cloud, where he re- mained for about two years. After complet- ing his education, he returned to Grant county, and has since made it his home. For some time he remained with his parents, helping his father in the store and on the farm, and later engaged in farming on his own account.

Mr. Johnson was married February 27, 1886, to Miss Hattie Johnson. She was a native of Winnebago county, Wisconsin, but came to Grant county, Minnesota, with her parents when about one year old. There she grew to womanhood, and attended school, completing her education in St. Cloud, Min- nesota. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of two children, named as follows - Dora and Alma T. Mr. Johnson has a well im- proved farm of 160 acres in Pomme de Terre township and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He holds the office of supervisor of the township, and is assistant postmaster at Pomme de Terre postoffice. Mr. Johnson is a man of indus- try, honesty and integrity ; his word is recog- nized as good as his bond. He is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Pomme de Terre and a representative man of the county.

AA OTT T. STEVENS is engaged in the _ general hardware business in Wah- peton, Richland county, North Dakota, where he carries a large stock of stoves, tinware, iron and steel, steam fittings, pumps, pipes, etc.

Mr. Stevens was born in Auburn, New York, March 31, 1837, and is a son of Thomas

and Eleanor ( Davis ) Stevens, natives of New York. The father was engaged in the man- ufacture of hoes, forks, corn knives and loco- motive forgings, and had a large factory located two miles east of Auburn city, New York. He was a man of wide influence in his native town, and held many offices of importance, being a justice of the peace and county commissioner. In politics he was a democrat and was a member of the Univer- salist church. He died in 1876; his wife died in 1888. They had a family of seven children, five of whom are now living-Sarah A., now Mrs. Doty ; Augusta, now Mrs. Brown ; Celia, now Mrs. Putnam; Mott T. and George W. The mother's parents were Quaker people and were natives of New York State. Thomas Stevens' father was Roswell Stevens, a native of New York and of English descent. He was a manufacturer and owned a large blast furnace. He was a soldier in the War of 1812.

The subject of our sketch remained at home in his native State until he was well along in years. He received good educational train- ing and attended the Fort Edward Seminary, on the Hudson river, until twenty years of age. From that time until he was twenty-six he worked in his father's factory. Then in 1862 he turned his steps westward, locating in Lake city, Minnesota, where,forabout fourteen years, he engaged in steamboating and mill- ing. Thence he went to Minneapolis, en- gaging in the real estate business, at which he continued one year, when he removed to Wahpeton, Dakota, where he has since lived. He at once opened a hardware store, which business he has conducted ever since. He purchased his fine business place on Dakota avenue, and also a fine residence on Fifth street, where he now lives. In 1885 he had the contract for plumbing from the water works, mains to the offices, stores, and resi- dences in Wahpeton. He owns a large pow- der magazine adjoining the city limits,

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where he does an extensive wholesale busi- ness in powder.

Mr. Stevens was married in 1863 to Miss Laura Chadderdon, a native of Weedsport, New York, and a daughter of Nathan and Phœbe J. (Rood) Chadderdon, natives of the same place. This union has been blessed with two children-Maria E. and Fred. T.

Mr Stevens has invested largely in real estate, and owns a number of residence lots on Sixth street. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party, and is a leading member of the Masonic Order and of the Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor. Himself and wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which church he is a leading trustee. Mr. Stevens has been successful in business, and is one of the solid and prominent men of the city and county.

OHN P. HANSEN, another man of high standing and prominence in the city of Moorhead, is the person of whom this sketch will treat. He is of the firm of Hansen Bros. butchers and stock dealers.

Mr. Hansen is a native of Germany, born November 13, 1852. His parents were Erich and Christena ( Suverkrubb ) Hansen, also Germans by birth. His father was an exten- sive brewer, and also followed farming to some extent. He now leads a retired life. At one time he was induced to join the police force and kept on serving, until twenty-five years had rolled away. His father's name was John J., who was also a farmer and followed brewing throughout his life. Erich, our subject's father, had a family of eleven children, all of whom he finely educated. Their names are-John, Erich C. F., Peter, Magretha, Christena, Ever, Doris, Juliane, Fritz, Carl and Heinrich.

John P., of whom we are now to speak biographically, was raised in the city of

Schleswig, Germany, where he had good school advantages and availed himself of them. When about sixteen years old he entered a general store, where he learned the art of book-keeping. He remained four years and a half, and all but the last six months was expended in mastering the profession. The first four years he received his board, but had to get his own clothing and laundry work. The last six months he received $50, with board. After this training he left the home of his childhood and came to American soil, first settling in Duluth, where he found employment in a flour and feed store, for a short time. From that he went into a grocery store, remaining for fifteen months. He then took a trip to the copper mines of Michigan with his brother. He only stopped there a month or so and came back to Duluth, where he did wood chopping by the cord for two months, building a log hut in the big woods, in which he and his three companions boarded themselves and chopped for a living. After this laborious means of getting on in the world a mer- chant of Superior City, Wisconsin, engaged him to clerk in a general store during the winter. From that place he again strayed back to Duluth, and worked in a wholesale liquor house for a year or more. He did other work for another year and then engaged in grocery trade himself in Duluth, but shortly thereafter he went to Willmar, Minnesota, where he worked in a meat mar- ket. He went to Fargo in 1876, looking for work, but failing, he went to Red Wing, where he got work in the Turner Opera House for two years. Then he went to Moorhead, and in the fall of 1878, with his brother, Erich, formed a partnership, which still exists, dealing in meat and cattle.

Mr. Hansen was married on the 4th of May, 1884, to Miss Caroline Kruegel, daughter of Wilhelm and Caroline Kruegel, natives of Germany. Mrs. Hansen was born

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in the State of Wisconsin. Their family consists of two children-Earl J. and Her- bert B. Mr. Hansen purchased a fine home on Barlow and Fourth streets, in Moorhead, where he still lives.

In political matters our subject is independ- ent, believing in the best man for the office, regardless of strict party lines. He and his family attend the First Presbyterian church of Moorhead.

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HRISTIAN JOHNSON, deputy sheriff of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a native of Norway, and was born June 2, 1851. His parents were Zacharius and Carry (Johanson) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father while in Norway was a laborer in the city of Stenkjer. They came to America in 1867 and settled in Rushford, Fillmore county, Minnesota, where they remained for four years. They then came to Otter Tail county and settled in the township of Tordenskjold and took a homestead of 160 acres. On this farm he built the first log house, 16x24 feet. In 1877 he sold out and purchased a farm of 160 acres in Leaf Mountain township. He continued to improve this farm until in 1881, when he moved to the vicinity of Fergus Falls, where he now lives. They had only one son-Christian.

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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 42

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