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 44

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 44
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 44

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).

Dr. Swaine was married in 1882, on the 25th of December, to Mrs. Hattie Conroy, of Le Sueur, Minnesota. They are both members of the Episcopal church.

The Doctor has built two fine residences since coming to Wahpeton, in one of which he now lives. The Doctor is well up in his profession, and his attainments both in a lit-

erary and professional sense are of a high order. He stands at the head of his pro- fession in this county.

UGUST WENTZEL, one of the well- known proprietors of the North- western Marble Works of Crookston, Minne- sota, was born in the kingdom of Prussia, Germany, April 1, 1843, and is the son of John and Rosla (Trojan) Wentzel. His father was a farmer in that country, and our subject was raised to the business of tilling the soil. In his youth he received the edu- cation to which every German child is entitled by the law of the land, and at the age of twenty, bidding adieu to the Father- land, crossed the seas to the New World to seek his fortune in the freer countries this side of the broad Atlantic. Landing at Quebec, Canada, on the 10th of June, 1863, he went from there to Stratford, in Upper Canada, where he remained about a year on a farm. At the expiration of that time he came to Detroit, Michigan, and in the vicin- ity of that city found employment in build- ing a Government fort. He remained in that city until the fall of 1867, when he removed to Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, and made his home in that locality for some three years. In September, 1870, Mr. Wentzel moved to Woodbury county, Iowa, to the neighborhood of Sioux City, and was there engaged in farming for a period covering about six years. On the 1st of May, 1876, he arrived in Crookston, then an insignifi- cant village, a mere outpost of civilization. Some four families and a few single men, mere lookers-up of land, were the only inhabitants, who dwelt in some eight or ten log cabins or shanties. Where now stands the busy city the land was covered with primeval timber and underbrush.

Mr. Wentzel, fully persuaded of the growth of this beautiful section of the State, pur-

36S

RED RIVER VALLEY AND

chased a farm within some seven miles of Crookston, and settling upon it engaged in agricultural labor. There he lived until 1881, when he moved into the village and entered into the liquor business. This latter he continued until June, 1888, when he gave it up, and with a partner opened the North- western Marble Works. This institution, which is the largest in this portion of the State, is prepared to execute, in a handsome and tasty manner, all orders for monuments, sculpture or ornamental building stone, of any or all kinds of material, and carries a large stock of granite, marble, etc., on hand constantly.

Mr. Wentzel is still the owner of his fine farm of 209 acres of land, but prefers to lease it to a tenant, as he can not devote his atten- tion to it, and since his location in the city it has been rented. In addition to this he is the proprietor of some valuable real estate in Red Lake Falls.

Socially Mr. Wentzel is one of the most popular men in the city. He is an honored and esteemed member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Select Knights and of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, and closely connected with the local lodges of those organizations.

On the 1st of April, 1870, Mr. Wentzel was united in marriage with Miss Augusta M. Janz, a native of Prussia, Germany, and the daughter of Daniel and Mrs. Janz.

---

EORGE B. WRIGHT, deceased, was a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was a native of Williston, Vermont, and was born in the year 1836. He received an academic education in his native State, and was by profession a surveyor or civil engi- neer. He engaged in this line until 1869, all this time in the State of Minnesota. He located 160 acres of land where the city of

Fergus Falls, Minnesota, now stands, on the north side of the river, in 1867. This was in company with R. J. Mendenhall, of Min- neapolis. These gentlemen formed a part- nership and sent a crew of men to their place under the charge of Henry Dow, who arrived on the site of Fergus Falls on the 19th of August, 1870.

They at once commenced the construction of a dam across the Red river, the location of this dam being now known as the Bee- hive Power. They also commenced the erection of a saw-mill, and the next spring built an addition thereto and put in one run of stone for the manufacture of flour. They platted 200 acres of land on the north side of the river, Mr. Wright having secured forty acres in addition to his former 160. On the south side of the river they platted 160 acres, and commenced building and improving Fergus Falls. In 1870 and 1871 they sent a crew of men into the pine tim- ber, in what is now the town of Corliss, and in the spring of 1871 they rafted the logs down the river and had them cut at their saw-mill in Fergus Falls. Mr. Wright became sole owner of the unsold interest of Mr. Mendenhall in 1879, and after this devoted his entire time and all the money he could command to the building up and improving of his town. In 1881 he built what is known as the Bee-hive for a manu- factory, at present occupied by the Fergus Falls Wagon Company. He was a man. of much vim and energy, just such a man as was needed for the trying times of the early settlement of Fergus Falls and vicinity. He was long-headed, clear, and his conclusions as to the outcome of things were seldom known to be erroneous. He believed that the town, in whose interests he was working in those early days, would some time become an important city, but he was destined not to see the outcome of his labors. He was cut down by death on the 29th of April,

369

PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA,

1882, in the prime of life, being but forty- six years of age. He was a man universally loved and respected by all who made his acquaintance. To him is dne the honor of making Fergus Falls what it is to-day. To him is due the honor of opening up the pos- sibilities for prosperity and rapid growth which have come to this city. He indeed made Fergus Falls what it is to-day. He was an uncle of C. D. Wright, the president of the First National bank of Fergus Falls.

JOHN A. STONEBURG, a well-known and highly respected business man of Grant county, Minnesota, is proprietor of a livery, feed and sale stable at Herman.

Mr. Stoneburg was born in Sweden, on the 9th of October, 1859, and is a son of John and Johanna (Anderson) Stoneburg. The family came to the United States in about 1868, landing in New York City, and settled shortly afterward near Lake City, in Wabasha connty, Minnesota. There they remained for ten or twelve years, and then the family removed to Stevens county, and the father took a homestead in what is now Eldorado township, where he still lives. Our subject, John A., is one of a family of four that grew to manhood-Andrew, John A., Charles M. and -Alfred.

John A. Stoneburg was only nine years of age when the family came to the United States and to Minnesota. He received his education principally at Lake City. After finishing his schooling he aided his father in the labors attendant upon carrying on the home farm, continuing thus until he was twenty-one years old, the family removing meanwhile to Stevens county. When John A. had attained his majority he engaged in the machinery business at Fergus Falls for Captain Cole, but five months later went to Herman, where he clerked for N. B.

Ufford in a general merchandise store for about one year. He then sold machinery for Washburn & Webster, of Herman, for two summers, traveling a good share of the time, after which he embarked in the busi- ness on his own account for one year. We next find him clerking in the hardware store of Wells Bros. for a few months, and at the expiration of that engagement he established a confectionery store which he conducted for two years. In the spring of 1887 he estab- lished himself in the livery business, in which he has since been engaged. He also runs a line of stages between Herman and Elbow Lake.

Mr. Stoneburg was married, October 27, 1883, to Miss Anna Wistene.

AMUEL S. DAVIDSON, the leading merchant at the village of Mallory, in Polk county, Minnesota, is one of the most capable business men in the western portion of the State, and well deserves creditable mention in a work devoted to the represen- tative business men of the Red River Valley.

Mr. Davidson was born in Ontario, Canada, on the 21st of August, 1846, and is a son of Ralph and Margaret (Swan) Davidson, who were natives respectively of England and Ontario. His father was a farmer and a carpenter, and was a man who was well and favorably known throughout the region in which he lived.

Samuel S. Davidson, whose name heads this article, received his education and grew to manhood in the Province of his birth. He did carpenter work and aided his father in the labors attendant upon carrying on the home farm, and remained at home until he had attained the age of twenty-seven years. He then began teaching school, and followed that profession for seven years in Canada. His reason for beginning teaching was

370

RED RIVER VALLEY AND

because he had been seriously hurt in falling from a building scaffold. The next impor- tant event of his life was his marriage, in 1877, and in February, 1880, he came to Polk county, Minnesota. For about one year he stopped at Fisher, where he was engaged in clerking for C. P. Mallory. His next move was to the present site of the village of Mallory, where for a few months he worked at his trade and did other kinds of labor. In October, 1881, he purchased the store build- ing of Mallory & Spafford, and opened a general merchandise store. He has since carried on this establishment, and his honor- able business methods and straightforward dealings have won him an extensive trade. When Mr. Davidson purchased his building, which was the first on the site of the village, it was only 16x30 feet in size. He has since made material improvements. He has enlarged so that he now has a store room 16x32 feet in size, with additions for dwell- ing 14x16 feet and 14x34 feet, with 16-foot posts. Mr. Davidson was one of the pioneers of this locality. When he came here the railroad had just been completed, although there was as yet no side track at Mallory.

The date of Mr. Davidson's marriage was January 3, 1877. His wife was formerly Elizabeth Richmond, a daughter of John and Beatrice (Armour) Richmond. Mrs. David-

1 son was born in Lanark county, Ontario, Canada, but her parents were natives of Scotland.

ENJAMIN F. BROWN, agent for the George B. Wright estate, has his head- quarters at Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Mr. Brown is a native of Mil- ford Penobscot county, Maine, and was born June 9, 1853. His parents were True G. and Jorintha (Guliver) Brown, natives of Ban- gor, Maine.

The father carries on the lumber and mill- wright business, at which he has been engaged for a number of years in his native State. His father was Isaiah Brown, also a native of Maine, and by occupation a farmer. In Isaiah Brown's family there were six children. The mother's father was Benja- min Guliver, a native of Bangor Maine. He was a sea-faring man and was for years master of a sailing vessel. He reared a family of nine children, and three of his sons were captains of vessels on the ocean. The father's family are of English descent, and on the mother's side are descended from the French. Mr. Brown's father had a family of three children, all sons - Benjamin F., the subject of our sketch, George W. and Oscar T.

The younger days of the subject of our sketch were spent at home attending the public schools. After closing his high-school course he for some time attended a commer- cial college, but prior to this he was for some time book-keeper in a store at Milford, Maine. After taking his commercial course he went to Oldtown, across the river from Milford, and there engaged in clerking and took charge of the book-keeping department. He then returned to his home in Milford, where he engaged in the mercantile business for some three years. He then sold out and went to Bangor, where he became book- keeper for Fuller & Stanford, wholesale deal- ers in groceries, corn and flour. After remain- ing in the employ of this company for about one year he came West. In 1880 he located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and engaged as clerk in the dry goods department of Good- fellow & Eastman's establishment, by whom he was employed for six months. Thence he removed to Fargo, Dakota, where for six months be was employed as book-keeper for P. G. Tozier. In August, 1881, he came to Fergus Falls, and entered the employ of G. B. Wright as book-keeper. At this time Mr.

371

PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA

Clement was agent for Mr. Wright, but, after the latter's death in 1882, Mr. Clement resigned his position and Mr. Brown was appointed agent. He has attended to this estate since that date. His office is on Cas- cade street, opposite the Cable Flour Mill. His dwelling adjoins the office.

In the year 1880 Mr. Brown was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Esther I. Newbegin, a native of Milford, Maine, and daughter of Edward G. and Catharine (Marsh) Newbegin, natives of Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two children-Edward T. and Herbert F.

Mr. Brown is engaged in raising Holstein cattle, and has a fine herd mostly of this breed, which stock he obtained from Roch- ester, Minnesota. He keeps thirty-five cows for dairy purposes and disposes of the milk to city consumers. He employs a man on his farm near town to attend to his farm inter- ests. He has held many positions of trust and has at all times enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens. While residing in the East he was town clerk and town treasurer for a period of two years. He was also a sur- veyor and worked during a portion of the time at surveying. In politics Mr. Brown is a stanch republican, having affiliated with that party for many years. He is a leading Mason and is a prominent business man of Fergus Falls.

ARVEY E. COOKE, editor of the Polk County Journal, of Crookston, Minnesota, was born in Northampton, Mas- sachusetts April 27, 1849, and is the son of Aaron and Harriett (Clark) Cooke. While he was yet a boy his parents removed to Steuben county, New York, where he was reared and received his primary education. In the latter part of the summer of 1862, while the land re-echoed with the tocsin of

war waged by recreant citizens on our Gov- ernment, his young heart beating high with patriotism, although but thirteen years old, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-first New York Infantry. The young volunteer, perhaps one of the young- est to shoulder a musket, knowing that the law prohibited the enlistment of boys under the age of eighteen, cut out of an old newspaper two pieces upon which were printed the figures 18, and when asked his age, replied promptly, "I am over eighteen," for he had placed one in each stocking under each heel. His name was enrolled in that gallant regiment, but he never served with it. After being mustered into the United States service at Elmira he was taken sick with the typhoid fever, before the company was fully recruited, and sent home. Before his thorough restoration his ambition and courage led him to endeavor to reach the regiment, which occasioned a relapse. He was sent to the hospital at New York City, where he remained until the following Feb- ruary, when he was enabled to reach his home. Under the kind ministration of a mother's care he soon recovered, and in May, 1863, went to Rochester and enlisted in Company F, First New York Veteran Cavalry, then being recruited up to standard strength, and was mustered into the United States service at Geneva, New York. He was at once sent as recruiting officer to Steuben county in search of recruits, and returned in two weeks' time to the company with the requisite number of men. Being for- warded to Washington, District of Columbia, the regiment spent four weeks at Camp Stone- man, on the Maryland side of the Potomac river, in drilling, at the end of which time they were attached to the noble 'Sixth Corps, " The Followers of the Cross," then under command of General John M. Sedgwick, and our subject received his "baptism of fire" at Snicker's Gap, Loudoun county, Vir-

372

RED RIVER VALLEY AND

ginia, having joined the corps at Harper's Ferry. After their engagement at that place with Mosby's guerrillas, le, in com- mon with the heroic members of that noble regiment, participated in all of the hardships, sufferings and sanguinary conflicts that have made the armies of the Potomac and the Shenandoah so famous. Looking back on the blood-stained fields of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Petersburg, and many others, and viewing the hardships, sufferings, and death of that fratricidal strife from a civilian's point of view, it is a wonder that our young hero could survive to tell the tale. He had three horses shot under him and many others used up with fatigue. He served throughout until the close of hostilities, and was mustered out on Saturday, July 22, 1865, at Camp Piatt, West Virginia.

On again returning, like Cincinnatus, to the paths of peace, Mr. Cooke gave his strict- est attention to finishing his education, and as soon as able taught a term or two of school to obtain means to go on with. It was while thus striving to fit himself for life, that he learned the rudiments of the "art preservative of all arts," printing. During his vacations he went to work in a printing office in Bath, Steuben county, New York, and soon became proficient in the mechanical branch of the business. This he followed from time to time in the inter- val between his studies for some years.

In 1869, Mr. Cooke went to Helena, Arkan- sas, and, until the spring of 1872, was em- ployed as teacher among the freedmen, but his health becoming impaired by close application he was then compelled to give up instruction, and came to the neighborhood of Glyndon, Minnesota, where he took up a claim. In the fall he returned to Helena, and taught school during the winter months, but in the fall of 1873 returned to the Red River Valley and settled on his place, where he was engaged in

agricultural pursuits until the fall of 1875. The total destruction of his two crops by the grasshoppers had totally impoverished him, all his previous savings having disap- peared, until he had not money enough to get out of the country. Discouraged but not disheartened, Mr. Cooke, after numer- ous efforts to obtain employment of any character, found work on a wood train, and after that in chopping wood in the timber, which "kept the wolf from the door" for a time. In the spring of 1876 he found em- ployment in the office of the Journal at Audubon, Becker county, Minnesota, and soon took charge of the publication of that paper. In the spring of 1877 he established the Polk County Journal, at Crookston, printing the paper at Audubon, and in the spring of 1878 discontinued the former paper, purchased a press and outfit and removed to the village of Crookston, and commenced the printing of the Journal at home. This was the first newspaper north of the Northern Pacific Railroad, in the State of Minnesota. Since that day he has never missed a publication, and devotes his atten. tion to the interests of Polk county. He is a member of the republican party, and a member of the State Central Republican Committee.

Since establishing the Journal, Mr. Cooke has been very successful from a monetary point of view, now owning, besides his well equipped office, one grain farm of 480 acres four miles east of Carman, and a stock farm of 320 acres two miles north of Crookston.

Mr. Cooke is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Cobham Post, No. 90, G. A. R.

Mr. Cooke was married October 1, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Hopkins of Vermontville, Eaton county, Michigan. Her father was one of the pioneers of Michigan and fol- lowed farming during his active life.

373

PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA.

ENRY P. GILL. A volume devoted to a review of the life work of prominent business men of the Red River Valley would be deficient indeed were it to omit an appropriate mention of the gentle- man whose name heads this article. He is a member of the firm of Gill & Forriston, proprietors of the Moorhead Roller Mills.

Mr. Gill is a native of Germany, born in 1844. He is the son of Philip and Margret (Gill) Gill, natives of Germany. The father was engaged in milling in his native land, as was also his father, Hon. Peter Gill, who was a senator in his native land for two terms. By careful tracing up, it is found that the art of flour making has run back in this family for over one hundred and fifty years. The father of Peter was Anton, who, with his brother Lewis, ran the same mill that the son Peter operated. Philip came to America in 1872, and settled in the mill- ing business in Kansas City, where he died two years later. The mother is now in Mexico. They had only two sons-Henry P. and Philip H.

Our subject, Henry P., was reared, from his early youth up, in and around his father's mill. In 1865 he came to America, settling. at Chicago, Illinois, where he engaged in milling for about two years. From there he went to Kansas City, engaging in the same occupation until 1874, at which date he went to Colorado and went into the commission business, continuing for three years. He then went to California, where he again engaged in milling and remained there until 1884, when he went to Fargo, Dakota Terri- tory, engaging in the roller mill of that city. A year later he came to Moorhead and worked in the mill for a time, but finally, on the 1st of April, 1888, the partnership was formed of Gill & Forriston.

The date of Mr. Gill's marriage was 1872, his wife's maiden name being Eliza Knoche, a native of Missouri. Her father was Philip

Knoche, of Kansas City. They have five children-Emmie, Pauline, Edward, Henri- etta and Harry.

Our subject is independent in his political views. He is a member of the Odd-Fellows Order and a popular man wherever known. He was an alderman at one time, when he lived in Colorado, and held various other local offices. Both he and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church.

The mill they now operate does a large business, shipping to the seaboard and sup- plying home demand as well.

HEODORE JOHNSON, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, is the proprietor of a meat market located at No. 321 Bismarck avenue, on the south side of the Red river. He is an extensive dealer in fresh and salted meats, poultry and fish.

Mr. Johnson is a native of Norway, born on the 17th day of November, 1847. His parents, John and Guru (Halvorsdatter) Johnson, were both natives of Norway. The father was by trade a tailor, which line of business he followed throughout his life. He had a family of nine children, seven of whom now live-Anne, Bereth, Oleanna, Guru- anna, Julianna, Theodore and Charles H.

The subject of our sketch remained at home attending school until he was sixteen years of age. At that age he went upon the ocean, serving as a sailor and also as a fisherman. He followed these occupations most of the time until coming to America in the year 1870. On coming to this coun- try, he went directly to Wisconsin, where he worked for a lumber company in the city of Eau Claire for five years. Thence he went to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and began work- ing at the carpenter's trade, which business he followed for some three years. He then opened a butcher shop on Lincoln avenue on

374

RED RIVER VALLEY AND

the north side of the river, which business he continued for about five years. When he first came to Fergus Falls he purchased the' lot on which his present business building now stands. He built a good substantial shop and house, and now lives in the second story of his business building.

Mr. Johnson was married in 1872 to Miss Martha Jensen, a native of Norway and daugliter of Jens and Carren (Hansdatter) Evanson. Mr. Evanson was a native of Nor- way, in which country he lost his wife by death. He came to America in 1871, and is at present living with Mr. Johnson, his son- in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two living children. Four children have died, by name Torval and Tora ; two died before they were named. The names of those liv- ing are Gilmar and Konrad.

Mr. Johnson affiliates with the republican party, and both himself and his wife and children are members of the Lutheran church. He has made several fortunate business investments in the city and lias made considerable money. He owns a laun- dry building on Whiteford street, which building he put up in 1881. He is a first- class citizen, and is one of the respected and respectable men of Fergus Falls.

1823, the father dying in 1857. They were the parents of the following-named children -Peoples, James, Jonas, Timothy, Sally, Betsie and Mary Ann.

Mr. Heald, the subject of this article, spent his younger days in the county of his birth, Penobscot. Maine, and attended school in that locality until he had reached the age of fifteen years. He then decided to become a sailor, and accordingly took up a sea- faring life and followed this vocation for three years. At the expiration of that time he returned to Penobscot county, where he remained for seven years engaged in the pineries in the winter and on the river in the summer. In 1841 he engaged in farming in his native State and followed the same for nine years. In the year 1854 he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he worked on the river and operated a farm for Mr. Wales. for one year. He then bought a tract of land on Basset creek, Hennepin county, Minnesota, on which he remained for thir- teen years engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1868 Mr. Heald removed to Grant county, Minnesota, settling in Pomme De Terre township, where he purchased a piece of land comprising 180 acres on section 23, where he has since remained, devoting his time to farming. For a number of years he operated a hotel at his farm home for the accommodation of the traveling public. Mr. Heald was one of the earliest settlers in the county, as the early date of his settlement will testify. He participated in the organi- zation of his residence township, and is one of the most successful farmers in the county.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 44

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