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 55

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 55
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 55

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In 1875 Mr. Earl was married to Miss Ophelia Stowell, of Faribault, daughter of Paschal and Minerva (Joslyn) Stowell.

Mr. Earl and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is at present one of the official board of that society. In politics Mr. Earl is a prohibi- tionist. He has built up a large and lucra- tive business, and is one of the prominent and rising young business men of the city and county.

AA" ILTON B. HAYS, the efficient chief of police of Crookston, is a native of Summit county, Ohio, and was born De- cember 4, 1843. He is the son of Zopher B. and Melvina (Moses) Hays, who, when the subject of this sketch was about six years of age, moved with him to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where the latter grew to man- hood. He received his education in the dis- trict schools of the home of his adoption, and assisted his father in the labor upon his farm.

In the spring of 1861 Mr. Hays, although but a boy, offered his services in defense of his country. Enlisting in May, of that year, he was soon after mustered into the service, at Madison, Wisconsin, as a member of Company I, Fifth Wisconsin Infantry, and in a short time was transferred to the seat of war in Northern Virginia, where the regi- ment was placed in the Third Brigade, Sec- ond Division, then under the command of Gen. W. S. Hancock. Early in the spring of 1862 he went with his regiment with Gen. G. B. McClellan to Yorktown, and followed him throughout all the campaign in the swamps of the Chickahominy. His " baptism of fire" was at the battle of Will- iamsburg, Virginia, and participated in all the engagements of the campaign, including the seven days' conflict at Savage Station, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines and Malvern Hill, and the final movement to Harrison's Land- ing, where their position was made terrible by the gunboats on the river. In August, the Fifth Wisconsin was ordered to a post near Fairfax Court House, where it went into camp and remained until after the defeat at Bull Run.

Mr. Hays remained with the gallant and widely-known regiment until the spring of 1864, having re-enlisted or veteranized, and participated in the conflicts at Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahanock Station and others. During the second day

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of the Battle of the Wilderness our subject was taken prisoner by the rebels and, while being taken to the rear, near Orange Court House, made an attempt at escape, but, being pursued and fired on, and one ball passing through the fleshy part of his leg and another in the hip, he was disabled and recap- tured. He was sent to the rebel prison pen at Andersonville, and there, under the inhu- man and unnatural Wirz, suffered, with thousands of other brave but unfortu- nate men, hardships and torments beyond the power of tongue or pen to portray. Hunger, exposure to the elements, filth and vermin were among the least of the many evils that caused the death of thousands of the "brave boys in blue." There he remained, often praying for death to relieve his sufferings, until the middle of October following, when he was transferred to the prison at Florence, South Carolina. In the dark nights of November, he deter- mined to escape, and succeeding in getting out, he made his way to Savannah, tramping most of the time at night. On reaching that city he secreted himself and remained hidden for some fourteen days, when Gen. W. T. Sherman, with his column, entered the place. Reporting to that officer, and making a statement of the facts in the case, he was forwarded to Washington, and, after rejoining his regiment, was allowed a fur- lough to recruit his health. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Hays was again among the men that composed his well-known regiment- joining them in front of Petersburg, Virginia, and participating in the campaign that ended at Appomattox with the surrender of General Lee and the army of Northern Virginia.

At the close of hostilities Mr. Hays was discharged from the service, after remaining in arms some four years, three months and fourteen days. In the fall of 1865 he removed to Poweshiek county, Iowa, and,

procuring a farm, entered upon agricultural pursuits. He remained in that part of the country until the fall of 1878, when he came to Crookston, Minnesota, and made arrange- ments to go into the livery business, letting the contract for the building now occupied by Thomas Bjorn, for that purpose, and then returned to Iowa. In the spring of 1879 he returned to Crookston with a number of horses, and that season devoted his attention to the barter and sale of that class of stock. At the same time he took up a claim of 160 acres of land within four miles of the city, which he still owns. In the fall of 1883 he was appointed chief of the Crookston Fire Department, and went to work to organize the necessary companies. This he accom- plished, and articles of incorporation were adopted November 13th, of the same year, and he has held his connection with the original company ever since.

During the fall of 1880 our subject was appointed city marshal, and re-appointed to the same office in the spring of 1881. He was also elected city assessor in the autumn of the latter year. In the spring of 1887 he received the appointment of chief of police, and being reappointed in the spring of 1888 still holds that responsible office. Mr. Hays is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the Col. Cobham Post, No. 90, G. A. R., of Crookston.

On the 9th of July, 1867, M. B. Hays and Miss Anna E. Thompson were united in marriage. Mrs. Hays, who is an active and highly intelligent lady, has been closely connected with the schools of Crookston, as a teacher, since 1879, until the past fall.

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B ICHARD E. WHITE, a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 30, Nisbet township, Polk county, Minnesota, is an old settler and a representative citizen of the locality in which he lives, and well

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deserves creditable mention in a volume devoted to the representative citizens of the Red River Valley.

Mr. White was born in Ontario, Canada, on the Sth day of February, 1854, and is a son of Richard and Mary (Robinson) White. The father was a native of Canada, the mother a native of Ireland ; they now live in Canada Richard E. White, our present subject, was reared and educated in the Province of his birth, receiving the same training and school- ing that is common to the youth of that land. After he had attained the age of fif- teen he began active labor-working in the pineries during the winter months, helping on the farm in the summer, and working on threshing machines in the fall. In 1877 he was married, and the same year went to Mani- toba, remained a short time, and then returned to his original Canadian home. In the spring of 1878 he went to Polk county, Minnesota, and bought 240 acres of land on sections 30 and 31, in Nisbet township, and has since made that his home. He has since purchased thirty acres more on section 30 and 160 acres on section 33, so that he now . has an extensive farm. His thrift and enter- prise are made manifest by the comfortable building improvements which are a credit to the locality in which they are situated. His buildings are neatly painted, and are located in a valuable oak grove, on the banks of the Morais river. Mr. White is now in excellent circumstances, and it is all the result of his own efforts and management. He had accumulated a fair start in the world before locating here, but has since been, as a rule, very successful in all his business ventures as well as his farming interests. Heis an intel- ligent, well-posted man, and is held in high esteem by all who know him. A man of the strictest integrity, his word is recognized as being as good as a bond.

The date of our subject's marriage was May 7, 1877. Mrs. White was formerly

Miss Margaret J. Morrow, a daughter of John and Agnes (Geddes) Morrow, who are still residents of Ontario, Canada. 'The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. White has been blessed with the following named children- Edinund R., Ida M., George L., John W. and Bert W. The family attend the Pres- byterian churchı.

EFF JACOBSON is the keeper of the county jail at Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Mr. Jacobson is a native of Norway, and was born on the 7th day of June, 1854. He is the son of Jacob and Maggie (Olsen) Jacobson, both of whom were natives of Norway.

The father was an extensive farmer in Norway, and was also overseer of an extensive wood lot. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and died in 1876. The mother came to America in 1877 and settled at Evansville, Douglas county, Minnesota, where she is now living with her son Amnis. In the father's family there . were ten chil- dren, nine of whom are now living-Andrew, Ole, Martin, Seff, Amnis, Martemus, Olive, Martha and Annie. The subject of our sketch spent his early days at home attend- ing the common schools. Until nineteen years of age he worked upon a farm, where he lived until his coming to America in 1873. On coming to this country he went at once to Michigan where he settled at Muskegon, being employed for about six years in a saw mill at that place. At the end of this period he came to Minnesota, settling at Fergus Falls, where he worked for George B. Wright, in the latter's saw mill, for two years. At the end of this time he obtained a posi tion as watchman at the county jail, and after continuing but about a month in that place, was then appointed by Gunder Bur- toldson, the sheriff, as jailor or keeper of the

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Otter Tail county jail. This position he has held since 1882. He was also appointed deputy sheriff in 1882.

In 1880 Mr. Jacobson was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Anna Johnson, the daughter of John Johnson. Mrs. Jacob- son is a native of Norway. This union has been blessed with one child - Mary.

Mr. Jacobson affiliates with the republican party, and is one of the representative cit- izens of Fergus Falls. In 1880 he purchased a lot on Junius avenue, and built a fine resi- dence in which he now live.

RIEL C. EATON, a real estate, loan and insurance agent at Herman, is one of the most capable and thorough business men of Grant county, Minnesota.

Mr. Eaton was born near Newark, Licking county, Ohio, May 27, 1851, and is a son of John F. Mary L. (Clark) Eaton. His par- ents were natives respectively of New York and Virginia. They settled in Ohio at an early day, where they were married. The father was engaged at farming during his early life, but later engaged in the hardware business at Marysville, Ohio. In about 1868 they came to Minnesota and settled at Med- ford, in Steele county, where the parents both died. John F. Eaton and wife were the parents of three boys and one girl- Oriel C., James H., William F. and Anna B. William is a hardware merchant at Wheaton, Minnesota; James H. and Anna B. are single, and Anna is a teacher in the High School at Herman.

Oriel C. Eaton, whose name heads this article, received his education principally at Marysville, Ohio, finishing his schooling at twenty-one years of age, the family in the meantime having removed to Medford, Min- nesota. Upon attaining his majority, our subject, was employed for two years as a

clerk in stores at Medford and Faribault, and at the expiration of that time, in 1878, he came to Grant county, Minnesota, and for the first two years devoted his attention to the sale of agricultural implements. Since that time he has carried on a loaning, real estate and insurance agency, and is recog- nized as one of the leading business men of the locality in which he lives. He is a man of the strictest integrity, a thorough and careful business man, and his word is recog- nized as being as good as a bond. He has always taken an active and prominent part in all matters of a public nature, and has held various local offices, such as member of the school board, village council, etc.

Mr. Eaton was married May 1, 1882, to Mrs. Senath F. Clarke, a native of Pennsyl- vania. She was formerly a school teacher, and has taught several terms of school in Grant county.

TTOHN H. HANSON, of the firm of Hanson & Flaten, dealers in liquors, wines, beer and cigars, on Front street, Moorhead, Minnesota, came to America from Norway, which was his native land, and being one of the representative men of the Red River Valley Region, should be given space among the biographical sketches of other prominent men.

Ile was born December 20, 1861. His parents were both from Norway. His father was Hans Oleson, and he followed carpen- tering and contracting until his death, which took place in 1874. The mother died three years before the father. They had a family of eleven children, only five of whom are now alive-Paline, Mathea, Annie, Helmena and John H., our subject. John H. was reared on a farm and attended the common schools of that country. After his father's death, in 1875, he came to America, going

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direct to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked for his brother-in-law, in a furniture shop, for six months. From that city he went to Crookston, Minnesota. After first visiting his sister, on a farm twenty miles from there, he returned to Crookston and did farm labor for a Mr. Sampson for about two months, getting $5 per month. He then went back to his sister's and remained for two months, attending school there. He went back and worked at $10 per month for Sampson, for two months, after which he took the position of clerk in a general store at Crookston, where he remained for a year. He then left the store and went on a hunting expedition on the Middle River, remaining there five weeks. After this successful trip he hired again to the same firm, for another year. He then went to Douglas county, spending six months there, and then to Grant county, where he worked a month for $12.50. His next trip was with Mr. Thompson from Otter Tail county to Fisher's Landing, with a drove of cattle. Then he went back to Crookston and worked on a farm for a Mr. Willson, for four months, after which he worked in his butcher shop in Crookston, where he had two fingers badly smashed, which laid him up all winter. In the spring of 1880 he came to Moorhead, and for two months he worked on a section to Crystal Springs. In July of the same year he went out with G. G. Beardsley on the Government survey, remaining until December 10th. He came back to Moorhead and chopped wood, five miles down the river, until spring. When spring had opened up he went to Montana, for the purpose of driving a team on grading, working on the line of the Northern Pacific.

He then took a contract in rock work, employing seven men. The job called for a cut of 200 feet, and he did well at the work he undertook. In the winter he

went into the Big Horn tunnel and shoveled for three weeks. The same winter he drilled for two months, and then, in company with five others, took a contract in rock work for 1,200-foot cut, in which they employed fifteen men to assist them. Each partner made $10.80 per day, clear of expenses, and the work lasted for six months and ten days. After this job was completed he returned to Moorhead and rested for four months, but soon his energetic nature demanded work of him, so he engaged to tend bar for O. C. Dumas, with whom he remained five weeks. He then went with the firm of Johnson & Larson, where he tended bar a year. From that position he went to Casselton, Dakota, and there worked for Ed. Cram, at bartend- ing. After a short time there he went back to Moorhead and hired to do the same busi- ness, as bartender for John Erickson, at the " Jay Cooke" Hotel. From there he went over into Fargo and started a saloon, which he operated twenty-one months. He went back to Moorhead and opened up a similar business there, February 28, 1888. His present co-partnership commenced in 1887, in Fargo.

He was married in 1886 to Miss Annie Thompson, daughter of Andrew Thompson, of Otter Tail county, Minnesota. They have two children-Millie B. and Ella H.

Our subject is a republican in politics, and one of the go-ahead men, who will push way to the front in whatever they undertake.

R. THOMAS N. McLEAN, physician and surgeon, is a member of the firm of McLean & Duncan, practicing physicians of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Dr. McLean is a native of Canada, and was born on the 4th of June, 1859. He is the son of William J. and Margaret (Nicol) McLean, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Scotland.

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The Doctor's father is an extensive farmer and stock-grower, and is one of the prosperous and prominent citizens of his present place of residence. The grandfather and mother were Dr. John and Mary (Ferguson) McLean. He was a surgeon, and occupied that posi- tion in the royal navy of England for some forty years. He was a native of Scotland, and in about 1830 crossed the ocean and settled in Canada, where he lived until his death. Margaret Nicol's father and mother were Thomas and Janet (Richardson) Nicol, natives of Selkirk, Scotland. They were farmers by occupation, and came to Canada in 1830, there residing until their death. William J. McLean, the father of the sub- ject of our sketch, had a family of five sons and two daughters-John F., Dr. Thomas N., David, Adam, Mary H., Janet R. and Archibald B.

sions in this district. He also holds the office of surgeon for the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad Company. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party. He is a leading member of the Masonic fraternity, and takes a deep interest in the financial and social welfare of Fergus Falls. ' He has interested himself largely in landed property in the city and in the country adjoining, and has made numerous fortunate investments. Dr. McLean is well up in his profession, and is thoroughly posted in all the particulars of the many cases which come to his attention, and by his care and cautious practice and the many successes that have come to him in his professional life he has formed many warm friends.

Dr. McLean, whose name appears at the UGUST WALTERS, the managing partner in the firm of Burkhardt & Co., the proprietors and operators of the Crookston brewery, is one of the representa- tive citizens of that city, and a man of influence in the county. He is a native of Brandenburg, Germany, born April 16, 1844, and is the son of John and Henriette (Lehmpol) Walters. He was reared in his own sunny land, the "classic Fatherland," and there received a portion of his education. But in 1859, with his parents, he crossed the wide Atlantic to the New World, to seek in a freer country the competence so hard to achieve in his own over-crowded native land. The family located in the State of Wisconsin, and their son, the subject of this narrative, remained with them about a year. At the age of seventeen, Mr. Walters assumed the duties of manhood and commenced the battle of life for himself. He had no capital except a courageous heart and a stalwart form, and he was not dismayed, but knew that under our peculiar institutions that they were better to head of this sketch, was reared on the home farm until seventeen years of age. At this time he was sent to the Perth public schools, and later to the Perth college, from which institution he graduated in 1878. In that year he came to Montreal, and there studied medicine in the McGill Medical University, graduating therefrom in 1882. After his graduation he was appointed house surgeon of Montreal general hospital, hold- ing that position for one year. In May, 1883, he came to the United States, locating at Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he com- menced the practice of his profession. He entered a partnership with Dr. Duncan, which has been continued until the present time. The members of this firm have been friends and colleagues for a long time, having studied together in the hospital of Montreal. They came to Minnesota at the same time and were admitted to practice in this State. The Doctor is vice-president of the Fergus Falls Building Association and is treasurer of the board of examining surgeons for pen- ' a young man than money. He went to

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work in a brewery, where he continued for about a year, when, in response to a call of the President for men to fill the ranks of the regiments then engaged in suppressing the unholy Rebellion of ruthless traitors against the Government, he enlisted, in 1863, in Company F, Ninth Wisconsin Infantry. After being mustered into the service of the United States, at La Crosse, he was forwarded with the regiment to Little Rock, Arkansas, and assigned for duty to the Seventh Corps, then under the command of General Reynolds. In the Southwest and along the frontiers of Mis- souri, Arkansas, Kansas and Nebraska the regiment did gallant and effective service, and with it Mr. Walters participated in all the marches, hardships, sufferings, skirmishes and hotly contested battles that marked its campaigns. On the 23d of February, 1866, he was mustered out at the capital of Arkan- sas and discharged from the service, on which he returned to the " Badger State," and received his final payment at Madison. Resuming his labors in a brewery in that State, he there made his home until the year 1873, when removing to Red Wing, Minne- sota, he filled the position of foreman in the brewery there for six years. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Walters came to Crookston, and put up a part of the brewery building he now occupies, in company with Mr. Burk- hardt, and has been occupied in carrying on the business as managing partner ever since, Mr. Burkhardt being a resident of Wabasha county, this State.

The brewery, which has been largely in- creased since its inception, has now a capac- ity of 40,000 barrels of beer per year, and consumes about 20,000 bushels of grain in the same length of time. A large exporting business is done in addition to the local traf- fic. The value of the plant, one of the best in this portion of the State, can not be less than $40,000.

Mr. Walters, who is a much esteemed member of Cobham Post, No. 96, G. A. R., of the city, is also connected with the A. O. U. W. and the I. O. O. F.

RIK O. WOLD, a prosperous and esteemed citizen of Grant county, Minnesota, is a resident of section 12, Erdahl township, where he is carrying on an exten- sive farming and stock-raising business. He is a native of Norway, born on the 20th day of January, 1836, and is a son of Ole Gun- derson and Olia (Erikson) Wold. The father, in his early manhood learned the black- smith's trade and devoted a good share of his life to that avocation. The family came to the United States about the year 1862. Wisconsin was the State of their choice and they remained there for the period of about six years, where the father was engaged mostly at his trade. At the expiration of that time, in 1869, they came to Grant county, Minnesota, and located in Pelican Lake township. The father died there on . the 12th of January, 1888, being eighty-two years of age. The mother died in April, 1866. In the family of the parents there were seven children-Gunder, Erik O., Mary, Betsy, Ole, and two others (twins) who died in infancy.

Erik O. Wold, whose name heads this article, spent his earlier boyhood days and received his education in the land of his birth, attending school until he was about fifteen years of age. He remained at home with his parents until he had grown to man- hood, learning in the meantime the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed, in connec- tion with his father for a number of years. In 1866 he came to the United States, and for about five years was engaged at black- sinithing in Rock county, Wisconsin. At the expiration of that time he came to Grant

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county, Minnesota, and located in Erdahl township. During the following year, 1872, lie homesteaded a portion of his present place on section 12 of that township. He now owns 280 acres in that vicinity, has good improvements, one of the largest barns in the township, and is rated as one of the leading and most reliable and substantial farmers in Grant county. He also owns some timber land in Douglas county. His presentcomfortable circumstances are entirely due to his own thrift, industry and economy.

In political matters Mr. Wold is a repub- lican. He has always taken a commendable interest in all public and educational matters and has held various local offices, such as . supervisor, school treasurer, etc.

Our subject was married on the 6th of December, 1860, to Miss Hermana Erickson, who was also a native of Norway. They have four living children, who bear the names of Ellen, Olia, Ole and Gunda. One child died in infancy. The family are exemplary members of the Lutheran church, in which organization Mr. Wold held the office of trustee for a number of years.

RS. EMMA SAWBRIDGE is the widow of John C. Sawbridge, who died in 1882. She is a resident of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Mr. Sawbridge was a native of England and was born in the year 1831. He came to Amer- ica in 1856 and settled in Shakopee, Minne- sota, where he lived until the breaking out of the Civil War. On the advent of this awful crisis he proved his love for his adopted country by enlisting in Company C, Hatche's battalion, Minnesota Volunteers. He continued in the service for three years, fighting the Indians on the frontier. On the close of the war he went to Alexandria, Douglas county, Minnesota, where he

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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 55

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