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 53

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 53
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 53

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a change. About five years of hard school work seemed almost lost, and he had started on something entirely new. He worked in the Journal office till after New Years' Day, 1883, when the proprietor of the Journal bought the Norwegian paper he had worked on before, and which had now been suspended. Being a little modest, he refused to be its editor, but Mr. Underwood, the owner of both papers, would not listen to this, and Mr. Solem finally had to yield. For- tunately, however, at about this time another man offered his services, and glad was Mr. Solem to be relieved of the responsibility. After this our subject worked as foreman on. the paper, and, in fact, for some time did everything that belonged to the mechanical department. But the paper did not pay, and was then sold to a stock company, Mr. Under- wood, however, retaining a controlling inter- est. Still it did not prove a financial success, and Mr. Solem concluded that could he get full control of the paper, edit it himself and reduce the expenses, the enterprise could be made a success. Accordingly he secured a loan, and in July, 1884, purchased the office, and is now editor and sole proprietor. He is meeting with merited success and the paper has now an extensive circulation.

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OHN WEST is the popular landlord of the hotel which bears his well-known name in the busy and active village of Barnesville, Clay county, Minnesota. He is a native of England, born in Warickshire, on the 7th day of October, 1847, and is the son of Richard and Mary West, natives of Eng- land. The parents of our subject emigrated to the United States in 1854, and settled in Michigan, where they have since remained. They are the parents of the following named children-Thomas, Sarah, Caroline, Annie, Robert, George, William and John, our sub- ject.

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John West. the subject of this biographical sketch, remained in his native land until he was seven years of age, and at that period he came to the United States with his parents. After landing he settled in Michigan at the village of Sturges. He remained there, attending the common schools of that place, until he was about fifteen years old. In 1862 he entered the employ of the Great Western Railroad Company, and remained with them for over twenty-three years. Eighteen years of that time he was an engineer, and on the 1st day of November, 1883, he removed to the State of Minnesota and settled at St. Paul. There he secured a position as engineer on the St. Paul, Minne- apolis & Manitoba line, and made a regular run from St. Paul to St. Cloud and to Will- mar. This route passed through St. Cloud, and while stopping there on the 14th of April, 1886, a day of horror, never to be for- gotten by those who were there and passed through the danger of that cyclone, which spread desolation and ruin over

that fair city. Our subject barely escaped with his life. He was in bed and hearing the approaching storm, got up, par- tially dressed, and just stepped through the door leading to another room, when the house was caught up in the vortex of the whirlwind and .completely demolished. Mr. West was hurled through the air, and although carried over fifty feet, received no serious injury. The lady of the house was whirled up into the air, carried a short dis- tance, and was slightly injured, while the lady and her servant, with whom Mr. West was boarding, were instantly killed. Mr. West received severe wounds and bruises on account of which he was unable to do any work for six weeks. He then took his old position as engineer on the road, but found himself too much disabled to do service in his old line, engineering. Hle therefore removed to Barnesville, Clay county, Minne-

sota, where he purchased his present prop- erty and engaged in the hotel business. He has since resided there engaged in the busi- ness, and is one of the most popular and highly esteemed hotel men in the Red River Valley.

Mr. West was united in marriage in July, . 1868, to Miss Rachel Penman, a native of the State of New York. This union has been blessed with the following named child- ren-William R. and Bert W .. who are liv- ing, and three others deceased.

Mr. West takes an active interest in all mat- ters of a local nature, pertaining to town or county. In political matters he affiliates with the democratic party. He is one of the repre- sentative citizens of the county ; - a man of the highest honor and integrity; his word is considered as good as his bond.

ON. WILLIAM E. PURCELL is a leading attorney of Wahpeton, Rich- land county, North Dakota. He is a native of Ilunterdon county, New Jersey, where he was born August 3, 1858. The parents of the subject of our sketch were Joseph and Johannah (Dugan) Purcell, natives of Ireland. They came to America in 1853 and settled at Flemington, New Jersey, where the father engaged in farming.

The younger days of the subject of this sketch were spent at work on the farm. He received a good common school education, and in 1876 commenced the study of law in tlie office of Hon. John N. Voorhees, of Flemington, New Jersey, continuing his studies until 1880, when he was admitted to the bar, and in the same year removed to Wahpeton, Richland county, North Dakota, where he has since been engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. In 1884 he was elected county attorney, and in 1886 entered upon the duties of city attorney of Wahpe-

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ton. In 1888 he was appointed United States district attorney by President Cleve- land, his field of duties taking in the entire Territory. There are eight districts in Dakota, and Mr. Purcell, as district attorney, must visit them all to attend to the legal duties of his office. This necessitates a vast amount of travel and absence from home. He is a member of the board of education and a member of the agricultural board of North Dakota. In politics Mr. Purcell affili- ates with the democratic party, in defense of whose principles he often takes the stump. He has been successful in a financial way, and owns a thousand acres of land and con- siderable city property in Wahpeton. Mr. Purcell is a lawyer of excellent legal attain- ments, and is highly respected by his fellow- townsmen. Having thoroughly prepared him- self for his profession, he has risen to be the leading attorney in the county. His brother, Richard R., who has been studying law with him for some time, was admitted to the bar in 1888, and is still in his office attending to legal matters during his absence on district business.

NDREW GUNDERSON, one of the enterprising farmers of Clay county, Minnesota, has, through hard labor and fru- gality, situated himself in the midst of a fine comfortable home at Moorhead.

He was born in Norway, March 16, 1821. His father was Gunder Christofferson, a farmer, who had four children - Chris- toffer, Jeris, Andrew and Annie. The par- ents were faithful Lutherans, and died in the land of their birth.

Our subject, Andrew, was raised at home to farm life and duties, but when sixteen years old he went to work on a farm with his brother, where he remained for eighteen years. Then he was married, and worked five years on what is known as the Soldier's

Home. He then came to America, in 1872, stopping in Cass county, Dakota, where le worked on the railroad six months, after which he came to Moorhead, which at that time only presented some four or five houses, the balance of the places of inhabitation being mere shanties. He found work in the round house, across the river from Moor- head in Fargo, for six months. He then put in several months at any kind of labor that he could find to do-not being afraid of hard labor, he always found some sort of employment. He purchased a lot and built the house in which he now lives, and also pre- empted a quarter section of land, six miles out from Moorhead, in Oak Park township. He improved this and then bought an equal amount which adjoined the former piece.

The date of his marriage was November 1, 1863; he married Miss Mary H. Feltmann, a native of Norway, and the daughter of Peter Feltmann. Her mother's name was Martha Nelson. Her father was a sea cap- tain, and also farmed in Norway, in which land they both died. Mr. and Mrs. Gunder- son's children now living are -- Matilda, who is a clerk in Sharp's dry goods store at Moorhead; and Annie, who is a student in the high school at Moorhead.

In politics Mr. Gunderson is a republican, thinking that the true theory is not to tie one's faith to party, but see that good men are placed in office.

LEXANDER H. DUNLAP, M. D., one of the brightest ornaments of the medical profession of the city of Crookston, Minnesota, is a native of Canada, having been born at Pembroke, in the province of Ontario, September 14, 1857, and is the son of John and Julia (Ellis) Dunlap. In his earliest youth he sought his education in the ordinary primary schools, and after that at the Kingston preparatory college. In 1876,

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at the age of nineteen, having come to the determination to adopt the medical profes- sion as a life's work, with that intention he matriculated at the celebrated McGill Med- ical College, located at Montreal, than which there is none better on this continent, and after diligently pursuing his studies, both in surgery, therapeutics and materia medica, was finally graduated with honor at the com- mencement in March, 1882.

The young doctor on looking around him for a location in which to settle, where his talents and training would be of benefit to himself and humanity, felt that in the newer countries of the West he would find a greater field for his efforts, and therefore in Septem- ber following his graduation, after resting during the summer, he came to the far-famed Red River Valley, and perceiving the grow- ing importance of the then flourishing village of Crookston, he settled in that place. Open- ing an office for the practice of the profession to which he had devoted his attention, and hanging " his banner on the outward walls," that all might know that he was a disciple of Galen and master of the healing art, com- menced practice. By strictly attending to the duties devolving upon him, a conscien- tious discharge of the obligations laid upon him by his profession, and his close study of the cases submitted to his care, he has built up a most excellent, extended, and lucrative practice. Although the youngest member of the medical fraternity in the city, Dr. Dunlap already occupies a prominent posi- tion therein, and is regarded in an estimable light by his coadjutors in the profession.

The Doctor is an active and zealous mem- mer of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in Crookston Lodge, No. 141, A. F. & A. M., with which he still continues to be connected. He is also a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 78, A. O. U. W., of Crookston.

Dr. Dunlap is as yet a single man, not hav- ing assumed the yoke matrimonial.

ILBERT OLSON, one of Grant county's most highly respected citi- zens, is residing on section 22, Erdahl town- ship, where he is carrying on an extensive farming and stock-raising business. He is a native. of Norway, born on the 28th of July, 1836, and is a son of Ole Munson and Guri (Gilbertson) Munson, natives also of the king- dom of Norway. . The father, who was a farmer, died at the advanced age of ninety- two years. The mother died in 1885, at the age of seventy years. They were the parents of the following named children - Anton, Gilbert, John, Ole, Ingebar, and one who died in infancy.

Gilbert Olson, the subject of this memior, spent his early days in attending the excel- lent common schools of his native land. When he was fifteen years old, he left the school-room and learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1854, or when he was eighteen years of age, he emigrated to the United States, and after a voyage of seven weeks, landed at Quebec, Canada, where he was forced to remain for some time on account of sickness. As soon as health permitted, he removed to Wisconsin, between Waupon and Fond du Lac, where he was again assailed by sickness and confined for six months. As soon as he had recovered his health, he engaged work of a farmer in that locality, and remained with him for two years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Madison, Wisconsin, where he remained about six months, then going to Whitewater, Wal- worth county, Wisconsin. He remained there until the outbreak of the Civil War, and in 1862 enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry, entering as a private and being discharged as corporal. He was under Capt. E. S. Redington for three years and participated in the following battles : Helena, Arkansas; Vicksburg, Lit- tle Rock, Spanish Fort, Mobile and Pine Bluff, besides a great many skirmishes

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and scouting expeditions. He was honor- ably discharged at Brownsville, Texas, August 25, 1865. After his discharge, Mr. Olson returned to Madison, Wisconsin, where he was paid off. He then went to Iowa, where he remained for one winter, and then left for Menominee, Wisconsin, where he worked in a saw mill for three years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Grant county, Minnesota. In 1870 he homesteaded a tract of land on section 22, Erdahl township, where he has since continued to reside, engaged extens- ively and successfully in general farming operations. His well-improved farm now comprises 320 acres of excellent land, and Mr. Olson is one of the oldest settlers and most highly esteemed citizens in Grant county.

Mr. Olson was married April 18, 1871, to Miss Anna Johnson, a native of Norway. Their marriage has been blessed with nine children -Gena, Oden (deceased), Malinda, Adolph, Josephine, Odena, Oden, Freeman and Axel. Mr. Olson has been supervisor of his township, school director, and held other offices of a local nature. Mr. Olson, with his family, belongs to the Lutheran church. In political matters he affiliates with the repub- lican party. IIe is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, holding a membership in Reynolds Post No. 51, of Alexandria, Minnesota.

UDOLPH C. BURKHARDT, the gen- eral landlord at the Cleveland House, at Crookston, Minnesota, came to that city in January, 1880, and since that time has been identified with the growth and pros- perity of the place.

The subject of this personal narrative was born at Marine, Madison county, Illinois, December 27, 1857, and is the son of Hon.

Henry and Elizabeth (Burgher) Burkhardt. His father was a man of energy, industry and excellent business talents, and in 1859, with a view to the betterment of his for- tune, removed to Wabasha, Wabasha county, Minnesota, where he embarked in business, carrying on a meat market, which he still continues. In the public life of that portion of the State he has been an important fac- tor, having served for five years as sheriff of the county, and was elected, in 1886, to rep- resent the district in the State senate. In 1878 he came to Crookston and purchased the lots and laid the foundation and plans for the present brewery, operated by Burk- hardt & Co., but returned to Wabasha, where he makes his home.

Rudolph C. Burkhardt received from his parents full facilities for availing himself of the excellent educational ad vantages afforded by the place of their residence, and remained with them until 1880, assisting his father somewhat in his business. In the last named year he went to La Crosse, Wiscon- sin, and spent one term in the Commercial College, after which he came to Crookston, and had charge of the books of the brewery. In this employment he remained five years, at the expiration of which he purchased the Cleveland House and embarked in his pres- ent business. The hotel is a neat and con- venient one of some eighteen rooms, and has a handsome bar-room and saloon in connec- tion. Beside this property Mr. Burkhardt has considerable real estate in the city, and is one of the solid men of the city in a finan- cial sense.

Mr. Burkhardt is an active member of Crookston Lodge, No. 79, I. O. O. F., and is the district deputy grand master of the order in this place. He was united in mar- riage, June 22, 1882, with Miss Bertha Boel- ker, of Mazeppa, Wabasha county, this State, and a native of Canada. They have two children-LeRoy and Raymond.

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LONZO BRANDENBURG is the pres- ent sheriff of Otter Tail county, Minne- sota. He is a native of the city of Dayton, Ohio, and was born on the 1st of November, 1849.

His parents were Alpheus M. and Catha- rine Brandenburg, who were both natives of Dayton, Ohio. The father moved to Musca- tine, Iowa, and while there was engaged in the mercantile business and followed the same until in 1858, when he went to Trem- paleau, Wisconsin. Here he engaged in the mercantile business, in which line he con- tinued for a number of years. He has now retired from active business and is still living at Trempaleau. The mother died in 1881. They had a family of six children, the fol- lowing of whom are now living -- Esther, now Mrs. Grover; Maria, now Mrs. Elkins; Mary, Alonzo and Oscar.

The younger days of the subject of our sketch were spent in attending school in Wisconsin. After completing his scholastic course, he then, for some time, clerked in a general store at Trempaleau. After continu- ing in this line for four years he went to Kansas where he remained six months. In 1870 he came northward, stopping at Troy, Winona county, Minnesota, where he clerked .in a hotel for some time. In the spring of 1871 he came to Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and at once turned his attention to the manufacture of lime. He burned the first lime at Fergus Falls, and followed that business for one year. He then learned the trade of plastering, in which business he continued for four years, takinga great many contracts for that kind of work, and employing continually from four to six men. He then engaged in selling agricult- ural machinery, and followed that business for eight years, and in 1881 was elected sher- iff of Otter Tail county. His first term was under the old law and lasted three years. Since that date, every succeeding two years,

he has been re-elected to the office of sheriff. Mr. Brandenburg has been a man of consid- erable prominence in local politics, and has been lionored in many ways by his fellow citizens. He was the first marshal of the city, holding that office for two years, and for some years was alderman of the third ward. In the business. improvements of Fergus Falls he has proven himself to be a progress- ive citizen. He has built four dwelling houses besides his own residence on Cavour avenue. He is one of the directors of the Citizens' National Bank, and is a stock-holder in the Otter Tail flouring mill. In politics he is a loyal republican, having affiliated with that party for many years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is one of the solid and substantial men of the city and county.

Mr. Brandenburg was married in 1874 to Miss Alice Faber, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Brandenburg is the daughter of George M. Faber.

ARRY M. WHEELOCK, the local editor of the Fergus Falls Journal, was born at Fredonia, New York, on the 14th of June, 1859. His parents, Theodore and Eva (Jennings) Wheelock, were natives, respectively, of Massachusetts and Con- necticut. The father is now a resident of St. Paul. The mother died at Duluth in 1880. The parents had a family of two sons -Harry M. and Leland L.

Harry M. Wheelock, our present subject, received his education in the Normal School at Fredonia, New York, and at an early age began learning the printer's trade-"the art preservative of all arts." After finishing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade in various portions of the Eastand West. In 1882 he came to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and aided in the establishment of the Daily Telegram. For two years he was connected

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with that paper, and then in company with Capt. J. D. Wood established the Democrat. A few months later lie became connected with the Fergus. Falls Journal, and is now local and associate editor on that paper. From his many years experience in active newspaper work he understands the business thoroughly, and is rated as one of the best newspaper men in the Park Regions.

Mr. Wheelock was married, in 1882, to Miss Josephine A. Buck, of St. Paul.

OSEPH B. HODGSON, who is engaged in the collection and agricultural imple- ment business, at Herman, Grant county, Minnesota, is one of the most intelligent and best posted citizens of his locality. A genial, well informed and courteous gentleman, he has made many warm friends, and is highly regarded both as a business man and an exemplary citizen.

Mr. Hodgson is a native of Minnesota, born in Dakota county, on the 5th of April, 1857, and a son of Thomas [and Charlotte Lenora (Corran) Hodgson. His parents were natives of England. They were married in the land of their birth, and at an early day came to the United States, locating at Galena, Illinois. From there they removed to Dakota county, Minnesota, in 1854, and there the father died in 1874. He was a member of the Methodist church, and man of high christian character. The widow has lived in St. Paul since 1882, being now about 74 years of age. Thomas Hodgson and wife were the parents of seven children -five boys and two girls-all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood- Kate, Susan, Edward J., Thomas C., William, James, and Joseph B. Kate became the wife of B. H. Phinney, and died in 1887. Susan is the wife of C. H. Phinney, one of Grant county's leading farmers. Edward J. married Miss Mary Staples, and is now a lawyer in St.

Paul. Thomas C., is a resident of Delaware township, Grant county. He held the office of county superintendent of Grant county for many years, and is now one of the State grain inspectors. William is an attorney at Hast- ings, Minnesota. James is a lawyer at Ben- son, Minnesota.

Joseph B. Hodgson, whose name heads this article, grew to manhood in his native county. He received a good practical education, and supplemented this with a thorough course at the St. Paul Business College, finishing his studies in 1881. After leaving college he clerked in his brother's law office for two years and then came to Herman, Grant county, Minnesota, and since that time has devoted his attention to the machine business, and also to collecting.

Mr. Hodgson is a capable and careful busi- ness man, and a gentleman of wide general information. During his residence in St. Paul, for nearly a year, he was a reporter on the Minneapolis Evening Journal, being con- nected with the St.Paul department. In politi- cal matters he is a republican, and has always been an active and zealous worker for the suc- cess of that organization.

OHN A. HANNAH, a well-to-do and suc- cessful farmer residing on section 28, Nisbet township, Polk county, Minnesota, is one of the leading citizens of the locality in which he lives. He was born in Ontario, Canada, on the 11th of April, 1851, and was a son of William and Charlotte (McDonald) Hannah, who were also natives of the same Province. Both of the parents are now deceased. They had a family of thirteen children, eight boys and five girls-John A., William, Maggie, Isabella, Dan (deceased), Rose Ann (deceased), Charles Albert, James, Ellen Alice, Henry, Lottie, Allan (deceased), and Andrew Ernest. William married

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Isabella M. Brownlee (deceased), and is living in Nisbet township with Andrew and Ernest, their sister Ellen Alice keeping house for them. Maggie married Alexander Kelley, and they are living in Michigan. Isabella married John Bilfer, and they are still resi- dents of Ontario. The youngest sister, Lot- tie, lives in Ontario with her brothers James and Henry. Rose Ann married Kenneth McCharles, and died, leaving two children- Bertie, a girl, and William. The girl lives with James Hannah and the boy is with an aunt of his mother's.

John A. Hannah, the principal subject of onr present sketch, was reared and educated in the Province of his birth, receiving the same training as to industry and integrity which is characteristic of the race from which he springs. At an early age he began work, and while still living at home for about eight years he worked in the lumber camps and on the river. In 1877 he was married, and remained in his native land until the following March (of 1878), when he came to Polk county, Minnesota, and selected a home near the village of Fisher, where he has since lived. He took 80 acres as a pre-emption, and a tree claim of 160 acres, so that he has a good-sized farm. His improvements are comfortable and tasty, and the farm is under a good state of culti- vation. Mr. Hannah is rated as one of the most substantial citizens of the locality in which he lives ; he is a man of the strictest integrity and is highly esteemed, both as a neighbor and an exemplary citizen.

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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 53

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