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 47

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 47
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 47

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).

The subject of this sketch received his education in Winchester, Winnebago county, and attended school until he was sixteen years of age. From that period until he was twenty-one he remained at home and assisted his father on the home farm. He remained

389

PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA.

in Wisconsin until 1883, and on March 25th of that year left for Minnesota, settling in Grant county, where he bought land on section 25, and where he has since made his home. His farm lies at the head of the beautiful sheet of water Lake Pomme De Terre, and comprises one hundred and sixty acres of well cultivated land, with good building improvements. He is engaged in a general farming and stock-raising business and is one of the most successful farmers in the township. In addition he is engaged in the carpentering trade, stone mason's work, etc., being a natural mechanic.

In November, 1876, Mr. Harrison was married to Miss Cornelia Johnson, and this union has been blessed with the following- named children-Hellena T., Carl J., Henry G. and Emma A. Mrs. Harrison is a native of Norway and came to the United States in 1869. Mr. Harrison has been supervisor of his township, also justice of the peace, school clerk, etc. He is one of the prominent and representative men of his township, taking an active part in all local affairs whereby the general welfare may be enhanced. He with his family belongs to the Lutheran church, of which organization he is secretary. In political matters he affiliates with the republican party and takes an active interest in that party's campaigns.

- -

AWSON BELL is the proprietor of the Headquarters Hotel, Wahpeton, Richland county, North Dakota. He is a native of West Virginia, where he was born September 25, 1829.

Mr. Bell's parents were James and Mar- garet (Vasbinder) Bell, natives of New Jer- sey. The father was a miller, and owned a large mill in Stark county, Ohio, where he died in 1838. Some time after the father's death the mother moved to De Kalb county,

Indiana, and lived with her daughter, Mar- garet, until her death. The father's family numbered eleven children, all of whom lived to mature age, except one, who was drowned when two years old. Four of the children are now living-James C., Ephriam, Mar- garet, now Mrs. Coates, of De Kalb county, Indiana, and Dawson. James C. lives in Mason city, Mason county, Illinois, where for years he has been proprietor of a large hotel. For twenty years he was on the road, traveling for a Philadelphia house. Ephriam is engaged in the manufacture of brick in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county, Ohio.

Dawson Bell remained at home until he was fourteen years of age and received a good common school education. At that age he commenced work in a mill, but re- mainėd only a short time, after which he engaged in clerking for three years in the employ of his brother, a merchant at Ragers- ville, Ohio. From thence he went with his brother to Bell's Mills, Stark county. Ohio, where he remained eight years as clerk in the store. His father was the founder of this place and the proprietor of the Bell's Mills Flouring Mills, and in connection there- with carding and fulling was also done. The father was a wealthy man and promi- nent in business circles. Concluding his clerkship, the subject of our sketch, started a mercantile business of his own at Dundee, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he con- tinued in trade for about three years. He then closed out his goods and returned to Bell's Mills, where, in partnership with George Hays and Wilson Lineroud, he bought a farmer's store. Running this for two years he sold out and went to Dover, Tuscarawas county, engaging in the mercan- tile business with his brother James C. for two years. At this time he went to the State of Minnesota, locating in Rochester, Olmstead county, where, for one year, he tried farm- ing. In 1861 he traded the farm for a stock

390 ;

RED RIVER VALLEY AND

of goods in Rochester, and with his brother- in-law, J. W. Everstene, engaged in business. Eighteen months later he sold out to Mr. Everstene, and Mr. Bell associated himself with Mr. George Head, with whom he con- tinued in the mercantile business for seven years. In the spring of 1871 he sold out and removed to Fergus Falls, settling on the banks of the Red River, where he built what is now known as the Park Hotel, formerly the Bell House, and the first American hotel at that place. He ran the Bell House with fine success until 1884, when he sold and removed to Wahpeton in February, 1885. He purchased the Headquarters Hotel from D. H. Smith and has continued its proprietor ever since. The building is four stories high, is 85x105 feet and is fitted with all mod- ern improvements. This house is known far and near as the leading hotel in this country and enjoys a steadily increasing popularity.

In 1855 Mr. Bell was wedded to Miss Mar- garet Fleck, a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Brown) Fleck, natives of Penn- sylvania. Her father was one of the wealthy farmers of his State and reared a large family of fifteen children. Nine of these are living- Mrs. Sarah Hay, Mrs. Adeline Morri- son, Mrs. Rebecca Everstene, Alexander, Mrs. Ann E. Messersmith, Mrs. Margaret Bell, Mrs. Priscilla Pollack, Mrs. Ann M. Brown and Mrs. Amanda Smith. Jacob Fleck came to Minnesota and settled in Rochester, Olmstead county, in 1857. He purchased a hotel and run the same for ten years, and then removed to Austin, Mower county, Minnesota. In that city he built the famous Fleck House in 1872, but he did not live to run the hotel himself, death carrying him away in 1873, and his son, Alexander, took charge of the house. In 1877 he sold out. The Fleck family have been one of high standing in

society, and have all accumulated muchi wealth. Jacob Fleck was a republican in politics, and in both public and private life was esteemed by all who knew him.

Mr. and Mrs. Bell have a family of five children - Charles F., married to Miss Annie Davenport, by whom he has three children- Ida, Nellie and Grace ; Calvin C., wedded to Nellie Allen, by whom there is one child - Alice ; Lulu, now Mrs. Wallace; James D. and Catharine. All of the children reside in Wahpeton.

In politics Mr. Bell is a loyal republican, and was formerly an old line whig. He is a Mason and an Odd-Fellow, and is one of the leading citizens of Wahpeton. Mr. Bell is a model hotel proprietor. Every convenience of modern invention finds him a ready purchaser, if, by it, he can minister to the comforts of his numerous guests. His hotel is always full of travelers, who find a genial landlord, a bright, cheerful hotel, and a table loaded with the best viands the markets afford. Mr. Bell has interested himself somewhat in real estate here, and also at Fergus Falls.

RED H. LAKE does an extensive busi- ness in real estate, loans and insurance at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He is a native of North Easton, Massachusetts, and was born in the year 1855.

Mr. Lake's parents were Jeremy and Charity (Gleason) Lake, the former a native of the town of Jay, Maine, and the latter of Massachusetts. The father lived in Massa- chusetts for some time before his marriage, and for some years carried on a blacksmith- ing business, but has now retired, having accumulated a competency during his earlier years. They had a family of four children, two of whom are now living -Jennie, now Mrs. L. W. Church, of Great Bend, Pennsyl-

391

PAKK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA.

vania and Fred H. The mother died in 1860. The father was quite a genius in his way, and was the inventor of a number of patents. He is still living at a hale old age.

In politics he is a republican. Jeremy's father was John Lake, and his mother was Betsey (Johnson) Lake. Both of these were natives of Maine. The father was by occu- pation a farmer. They had a large family, numbering in all twelve children, of whom five are now living -John, Josiah, Jeremy, Arthur, and Lizie A.

The subject of our sketch remained beneath the parental roof, attending school until he was fifteen years of age, at which time he commenced to learn the silverplat- ing trade at Taunton, Massachusetts. In 1877 he came westward, settling in Aurora, Illinois, where he worked for some time at his trade; thence he removed to Racine, Wisconsin, continuing to work at his trade, and remained until 1880. In this year he came to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and ac- cepted a position in the United States land office, as clerk, where he remained for eighteen months. At the end of this time, having, by his business qualifications, formed many acquaintances and opened the way for personal business relations, he established his present office, in which he has since con- tinued.

He is the agent for the Minnesota Loan and Trust Company and other large loan- ing companies for this part of the State, and loans a large amount of money annually for these companies and for private parties residing in the Eastern States.

He has been a careful, conservative pur- chaser of lands in this and other counties, and is at present successfully carrying on the business of several farms in Otter Tail and adjoining counties. On these farms he is engaged largely in raising wheat. His busi- ness investments in the city have resulted quite favorably to lis financial interest. He

owns a number of tenement houses, and has a fine cottage on Union avenue, in which he now resides.

In 1883 Mr. Lake was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Seba Briggs, of Alcove, New York, daughter of William S. Briggs. Mrs. Lake is a graduate of Fort Edward Institute, Fort Edward, New York. They have one daughter, now four years of age, whose name is Linnfred Eusebia.

In politics Mr. Lake affiliates with the republican party and takes an active inter- est in all things that pertain to its local wel- fare. He is a leading member of the Order of Knights of Pythias. Mr. Lake, in his business relations, has proven himself to be a careful, conservative man, and has gained the confidence of those with whom he has had business transactions.

JOHN KYED is a member of the firm of Sutton & Kyed, harness makers and manufacturers of horse furnishing goods, Alexandria, Minnesota. Mr. Kyed is a native of Denmark, and was born in 1840. His parents, John and Johanna (Back) Kyed, were natives of Denmark. The father is still living in Denmark, but the mother died in 1875. They had three children-John, Cath- erina, now Mrs. Marcusen, and Simon. The first, John, is the only one of the family who lives in America. The father was a soldier in the war between Schleswig and Holstein in the year 1848, 1849 and 1850. He was captured by the enemy at one time and held prisoner for twenty-four hours, but was then exchanged and returned to his own army. He performed valuable service during these three years of war. The father and mother belong to the Lutheran church.

John Kyed, the subject of this sketch, lived at home serving his parents until twenty-three years of age, when he was

392

RED RIVER VALLEY AND

drafted into the regular army of Denmark under the administration of Frederick VII. The next year, 1864, war was declared by Prussia and Austria against Denmark, and the subject of our sketch was in the first bat- tle fought at Mesonde in Schleswig. The army of Denmark was victorious. Mr. Kyed was in Company Six Heavy Artilery, and held the rank of corporal. On the 18th of April, 1864, lie was taken prisoner and held in dur- ance for four months. This war ended in 1864, and during its continuance Mr. Kyed saw much severe service, being engaged in five of the severest battles. Previous to his capture, of which we have made mention, he was under heavy bombardment from the 28th of March until the 18th of April, when the whole fortification was captured and all the occupants, 4,000 in number, taken prison- ers and kept in prison for a period of four months.

Mr. Kyed received seven years' schooling before he entered the service, and at four- teen years of age commenced working out for farmers, at which business he was en- gaged between the times of his active service in the regular army. After his service in the army he continued at farm labor until twenty-eight years of age, and in 1868 le left his native land and came to America, coming directly to Alexandria, Minnesota, where he commenced work for a farmer, with whom he continued for two years. In 1870 he took a homestead in the township of Alexandria, Douglas county. This was five miles from the village of Alexandria, and the farm contained eighty acres. On this land he built a log house, 12 x 16 feet, did considerable breaking, and continued improving it, living thereon until 1875. He then moved into Alexandria, and worked at anything he found to do for five years. In 1880 he started a dray business with one team of horses, following this line of work for eight years, during a portion of which

time he ran two teams and employed one man. The 1st of November, 1888, he pur- chased a part interest in the harness business of Mr. Sutton; with whom he formed a part- nership, and with whom he has been in busi- ness ever since. He owns his present neat residence on E street.

Mr. Kyed was married in 1871 to Miss Annie Matson, of Denmark, who was the daughter of Nelson Matson. Two children have blessed this union-John and Carolina.

Mr. Kyed is a representative citizen and is thoroughly interested in the financial wel- fare of Alexandria. He owns an interest in the Alexandria Manufacturing Company, has been a member of the village council for three years, and shows an increased activity in all matters pertaining to the growth of the business interests of his adopted town. In politics Mr. Kyed is a democrat. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Knights of Honor. He and his wife and family are members of the Lutheran church.

OL. WARREN ONAN, a highly esteemed citizen of Moorhead, Minne- sota, who now lives a retired life, is a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, born July 20, 1818. His parents were James and Mary (Collins) Onan, natives of Ireland and Wil- mington, Delaware, respectively. The father was a boot and shoe manufacturer the first fifty years of his life, when he turned his attention to farming in Cattaraugus county, New York, where he died in 1858. The mother died in 1868. They had a family of eight children, four of whom are now living -- Charles, John, Marcus H. and our subject, Warren, who was the eldest of the children. James, the father, served for three years in the British navy, having been pressed into such service while on his way to America. He left home when he was twenty-one years old, purposing to seek a new home for his

393

PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA.

father's family. James' father was Alex- ander, and after his son was pressed into the English army he came, with his family, to America. He settled at Dryden, Tompkins county, New York, where he bought a large tract of land and engaged in extensive farm- ing; he gave to each of his children a large farnı. His children's names were-Samuel, Alexander, Charles, John, James, Elizebeth, Mary and Sarah. James finally deserted the army at Rio Janeiro, going back into the mountains from where his ship lay anchored, and after hiding for three months took ship for America, stopped at Key West, Florida, about a year, then joined his father in Tompkins county, New York, where he remained a short time, then went to Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, where he married, when, as before stated, he engaged in boot and shoe manufacturing ; he also lived some time at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, then moved to Tompkins county, New York.

Our subject, Warren Onan, was reared to farm life and attended school until he was twenty-one years of age and then began farming for himself in the county in which his father lived. He continued seven years upon the place he bought when eighteen years old. He then sold out and went into the lumber business on the Alleghany river, which calling he followed until 1860. He then helped raise a company of 104 men, who were taken to Washington, District of Col- umbia, and made one of the ten companies which constituted the One Hundred and Fifty- fourth New York Infantry Volunteers. After going to Washington, District of Columbia, he designed returning home, but he found it was expected of him to remain and help "fight it out on that line." He consequently accepted the office of second-lieutenant. His regiment was taken into the Eleventh Army Corps, and after arriving at the city of Washington our subject was detailed as brigade quarter- master for the Second Division of said corps.

He held this place a year, and was promoted to chief of ambulance and quartermaster of the Second Division, Eleventh Army Corps. After one year in this position, in September 1864, at Atlanta, Georgia, he was detailed as quartermaster and commissary of the Twen- tieth Corps hospital, which gave him the rank of colonel, which he held until the close of the rebellion. He was wounded in Georgia and had a severe attack of typhoid fever. He saw many hard-fought fields, participating in the historic battles of Chancellorsville, Get- tysburg, Wauhatchie, Chattanooga, Ringgold, Dalton, Kenesaw Mountain, and the battles fought en route to Atlanta, Georgia. He ac- companied Sherman on his famous " march to the sea," and his-the Second Division -- received the surrender at Savannah: After the war ended he came to Allegany, New York, and engaged in the oil business some three years, and was associate judge of Cat- taraugus county, New York, for four years, and justice of the peace twelve years, coroner six years, besides many offices of a local nature. While he lived in Allegany, New York, he served as postmaster two years under President Pierce, and eight years under President Grant. It may be said that his home was in Allegany, New York, from 1846 until 1879.

In 1879, during the month of June, he came to Minnesota as agent for the New York Mill's Land Company, settling at Moorhead, transacting business in Otter Tail county. He has been city justice of Moorhead for four years. After coming to Moorhead he took a soldier's homestead in Ransom county, Dakota. This he improved and still owns. He has done a general land business for the Northern Pacific Railway Company, and has identified himself with Moorhead in buying and selling property. He built on the corner of Sixth and Garoway streets, and owns two hundred acres of land in Otter Tail county, Minnesota.

394

RED RIVER VALLEY AND

He was married in 1842 to Miss Margret Austin, a native of Scotland, and a daughter of Adam Austin.

Mr. and Mrs. Onan are the parents of five children-Elizebeth, died when aged eighteen years ; Elzora, now Mrs. Charles H. Sikes, of Dakota, who has one child-Maud; Vina M., died at the age of twenty-five; Clara C., wife of Charles W. McKay, died at Fergus Falls in 1888, leaving a family of three children- Grace, Blanche and Georgia; and Edward M., now married to Miss Ella Morris, who has three children-Samuel, Warren and Morris.

Our subject is a strong believer in repub- lican principles, belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and also is a member of the Odd-Fellows Order at Tartville, New York. He is a thorough temperance advocate, also.

- +11

ILBERT GILBERTSON, one of the leading general merchandise dealers in the village of Ada, Minnesota, is the oldest resident business man of that flourishing place, having located there in the spring of 1880; at that early date there were but two stores there and some four or five residences.

Mr. Gilbertson was born in the kingdom of Norway, on the 28th day of June, 1850, and is the son of Gilbert and Marthe (Erik- son) Gilbertson. He was reared and edu- cated in his native land until he had attained his eighteenth year, when with a natural de- sire to the betterment of his fortune, he crossed the ocean to the United States. He located at first in Ossian, Winneshiek county, Iowa, but shortly after removed to the neigh- borhood of Decorah, and was employed in farming, on Washington Prairie, for two years. At the expiration of that period he entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul Railroad Company, who were then building their branch from Calmar to Decorah, and was engaged in labor on the

grade, and afterward as brakeman on the train that was graveling the road from Clear Lake to Algona. After laying off to do gen- eral harvest work during that season, and after a short spell of work afterward on the road, he returned to Decorah. In spite of the remonstrance of John McKey, the farmer for whom he had formerly worked, who wanted him to again enter his employ, he had formed the intention of entering mer- cantile life, so, armed with an excellent recom- inendation from the latter gentleman, he sought employment in some of the stores of Decorah. Making an engagement with the hardware firm of Finn Bros., he there learned the first principles of trade, and re- mained with them until the following harvest time, when, his salary being merely nominal, he left them to work in the harvest field. While waiting for an engagement, Mr. Gib- son, of the firm of Gibson & Co., gen- eral merchants of that city, made him an offer of $15 per month salary and his board, for a year, and having really a desire to continue in that line of business, he accepted it, and entered their store as clerk. For six years he fulfilled all his duties there, being gradually promoted from one place of honor and trust to another, until finally, in 1877, he was placed in charge of a branch store, which they owned at Plymouth Rock, in the same county. Six months later, having accu- mulated some capital by his industry and economy, he purchased the stock where he was, and entered upon a mercantile career for himself.

The business being too limited in that locality, in the spring of 1880 Mr. Gilbertson sold out and moved to Ada, a new village in Norman county, Minnesota, but with full promise of future growth and import- ance. On his arrival in that place he pur- chased a lot and put up a suitable building in which to carry on business, which now forms part of his present store, and placing

395

PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA.

therein a new stock, opened business. Here he has been ever since, and the only mer- chant of that time still resident in the place. He carries a full line of dry goods, ready- made clothing, boots, shoes, groceries and all the various articles that go to make up what is known as a general stock, and is doing the largest trade in that line in Ada.

Coming to America with no capital but a stout heart, a pair of willing hands and a strong determination to succeed in life, Mr. Gilbertson can feel justly proud of the result of his own efforts, which have raised him from poverty to comparative affluence, and a position among the heaviest merchants of Ada.

While devoted to his business Mr. Gilbert- son has not neglected his duties as a citizen, or failed to take an interest in public affairs. In the fall of 1881 he took a prominent part in the division of Polk county, and in the organization of Norman county, although having no aspirations. When the village was incorporated in February of the same year, he was elected one of the first council. In his religious views he is a Lutheran, as most of his countrymen are, and was one of the original members that organized the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Ada.

Mr. Gilbertson was united in marriage January 7, 1882, with Miss Alice H. Aaker, a native of Norway, and the daughter of Hans O. and Rachael Aaker, of Winneshiek county, Iowa.

OHN OHLSSON, a prominent member of the farming community of the famous Park Regions of Minnesota, is a resident of section 18, Maxsville township, Grant county Minnesota. He is a native of Sweden, born in Lund on the 10th day of March, 1833, and is a son of Oluf and Kjerstin (Anders Datter)

Jonson, natives also of Sweden. The father and mother of our subject spent their lives in their native land, the father dying in the city of Lund in 1851. They were the parents of three children whose names were -Andrew. Elne, and John, the subject of this biographical sketch.

John Ohlsson attended school in the city of his birth until he was eleven years of age. From this period of his life until he had reached twenty-one he was in attendance at the excellent schools of Malmo, in his native kingdom. While there he studied navigation for two years, and upon his leav- ing school he followed a sea-faring life. In 1862 he took charge of an inland steamboat in the northern part of Sweden, and after eight years of this employment emigrated to the United States. After landing on Amer- ica's shores he went to Minneapolis, Min- nesota, where he remained fourteen months, in charge of a boarding-house. In 1871 he moved to Grant county, Minnesota, and located in Maxsville township, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land on section 18. He at once commenced to make improve- ments upon his place, setting out trees and cultivating his land. Since that time Mr. Ohlsson has added to his place until he now owns 270 acres of well-tilled land with the best of building improvements. He devotes his attention to general farming and stock- raising. In connection with his farm he operates a flouring mill by wind power, and the two industries have placed him in the most desirable circumstances.

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 47

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