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 59

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 59
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 59

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AMES MOTT is a member of the firm of Evans & Mott, collectors and real estate dealers of Alexandria, Minnesota.

Mr. Mott is a native of Dutchess county, New York, and was born December, 1844. He is a son of Thomas and Caroline (Horton) Mott, both of whom are natives of New York. Mr. Mott's father followed the busi- ness of farming in New York State, and in 1856 came to Wisconsin. On reaching Wis- consin he purchased land in Columbia county where he remained, giving his attention entirely. to farming until 1862. He then came to Olmstead county, Minnesota, and

spent two years there. Since that time he has been in various parts of the State. In 1886 he came to Douglas county, Minnesota, and is now living with his son James Mott. The mother of the subject of our sketcli passed from this life in 1874. She died in Dodge county, Minnesota. Thomas and Caroline Mott had three children-Elizabeth, now Mrs. Seward, of Columbia county, Wisconsin ; James, the subject of our sketch ; and a younger brother, George.

James Mott received his early training on a farm, and so well did he love his early home that he did not break therefrom until twenty- three years of age, since which time he has been continually traveling. He has been engaged principally in the collection busi- ness in Iowa and Minnesota. In 1876 he located in Swift county, this State, where he engaged in the collection business. Here he was deputy sheriff for a period of two years, and was deputy county collector. In 1881 he went to Glenwood, where he remained two years. Here he followed the business of making collections and selling agricultural implements. He was the con- stable for the village of Glenwood for two years. In 1883 Mr. Mott came to Alexan- dria, and during the first four months of his residence here sold machinery. He was then appointed deputy sheriff for the county of Douglas, and held that office for five months. Since that time he has been engaged in the collection business. Mr. Mott is the owner of considerable property in the village of Alexandria, and has a fine residence on Sixth avenue between I and J streets, and owns one-half interest in his office on Main street. Mr. Mott was wedded in 1867 to Miss Abbie Evartts. One child blessed this union, the name of which was William. . Mr. Mott was married the second time to Miss Emma Trank in 1879. They have an adopted child, Annie E. Mr. Mott is a stanch democrat. He has always adhered

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to the principles of that party. He is not, however, known as an offensive partisan, but is known as one of the liberal-minded politicians, the number of which is so small. Mr. Mott is one of the leading business men, and one of the prominent citizens of Alexandria.

As was said in the beginning of this sketch, Mr. Mott is a member of the firm of Evans & Mott. At their office is the headquarters of the Northwestern Collection Agency. They have competent and experienced men constantly on the road making their collec- tions, do a general collection agency, and can furnish the best of references.

LI B. LARSON, than whom perhaps there is no more popular and esteemed member of the legal fraternity in the Red River Valley, is engaged in the practice of law at Ada, Norman county, Minnesota, where he located on the 9th of July, 1886, and has followed the duties of his profession ever since.

Mr. Larson first saw the light on the 9th of November, 1860, in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and is the son of Barney and Ingbor (Warren) Larson, natives of Nor- way. He was reared beneath the parental roof, and acquired in youth the rudiments of a good common school education, and whichi he much enriched by liberal reading and adequate reflection. At- the age of seven- teen he commenced teaching school, and for several winters succeeding he was thus engaged in training the minds of the young, while the summer months were spent in arduous labor on the farm. In 1879, with a natural and laudable ambition to fit himself properly for a higher position in the world, and to acquire the knowledge which the sage has declared to be " more precious thian rubies, yea, than fine gold," he entered the

State University, at Minneapolis. There the young student bent his mind to study, mastering the classics as well as other advanced branches. After a rigid examina- tion, he was finally graduated by that Alma Mater in the spring of 1884. In search of a profession to which he could concentrate his energies and devote a life of busy activ- ity, he decided for that one so honored in our own country by the names of Webster, Clay, Daviess, Choate, Wirt, Douglas, Taney, Lincoln, Marshall and others-the law. With the purpose of fully fitting himself for his chosen life-duties, he entered the law department of the Washington University of St. Louis, Missouri, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1886, and, on being admitted to the bar, came at once to Ada, Minnesota, and established himself in practice. In the autumn of the same year he was chosen to the office of court commis- sioner of Norman county. He takes an active interest in the prohibition movement, and was nominated by that party for the office of county attorney. Like many others he can not help but see the evils of the rum traffic, and would fain suppress it by the strong arm of the law and the Government. In his religious views Mr. Larson is quite liberal, and attends the Congregational church, feeling that " there are many roads that lead to Rome, and why not to Heaven," as so beautifully said by Montaigne. Socially, Mr. Larson is esteemed in the highest degree, and merits and receives the respect of young and old in the community.

OHN G. PETERSON, the prosperous and enterprising proprietor of the Lake View House of Barrett village, is a native of Sweden, born at Kolsom, November 15, 1845, and is a son of John and Mary Ann (Mongenson) Peterson, natives of the same

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kingdom. John remained at home, attend- ing school, until he was sixteen years old. He then started in life for himself by work- ing in the pineries and on his father's farm for several years. In the meantime, how- ever, when he was but six years of age, in 1851, his parents came with their family to the United States, first settling in Washing- ton county, Minnesota, where they have since remained, and where the mother now lives, the father having died in 1863. John bought his father's farm in 1867, and con- tinued to reside there until 1870, when he sold out and removed to Otter Tail county, and " squatted" on a tract of unsurveyed land, and which proved to be railroad land. He then moved to Grant county and filed on a homestead of 160 acres, on section 4, Lein township, where he remained until 1887, when he built his hotel and opened his pres- ent business, still retaining his homestead.

Mr. Peterson was joined in matrimony with Miss Martha Johnson, July 2, 1867. She is the daughter of John O. and Catharine Peterson, natives of the kingdom of Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are the parents of the following children-Reta, Charles, Axel, Oscar, Anna, Bennie and John, all of whom are living and at home with the parents. Mr. Peterson is a man of integrity, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He has held the offices of town treasurer, chair- man of board of supervisors, and also the important position of county commissioner for seven years.

OSEPH BEAUDETTE, the pioneer settler of the town of Gentilly, Polk county, Minnesota, and a prominent member of the business circle of Crookston, is a native of the province of Quebec, Canada, and was born May 10, 1829. He is the son of Ama- ble and Mary Louise (Turcot) Beaudette,

and is of French ancestry. At the age of eighteen he started out in life for himself, going to St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he was employed for some eighteen months at wagonmaking. On returning to his native home he was united in marriage August 4, 1851, with Miss Ida Chandonnais, and two months later started for Australia, going to Boston, from which port he sailed on Christ- mas day of that year in a sailing vessel named the Fanny Hill. After a tedious voy- age, which lasted some four months and ten days, he reached that island continent. and proceeding "up-country " engaged in gold diggings for ten months. At the end of that time, in company with twenty-eight others, he went to Peru, South America, but, twenty of their number succumbing to the yellow fever in that country, Mr. Beaudette started for Panama, on the isthmus. Arriving at that point one day too late for the steamer which had sailed for San Francisco, California, he liad to content himself there for two weeks. At the end of that time he went to California, and after spending three weeks at Oakland, across the bay from San Fran- cisco, he went to Grass Valley, on the north fork of the American river. For five or six weeks he was engaged in building flumes, after which he went to work in a quartz-mill and remained in the latter about eight months. Taking a pick and shovel, he next was engaged in mining on French creek, where he met with very fair success in his search for the auriferous dust. Fifteen months later he returned to his native home by way of San Francisco, arriving in the place of his nativity November 1, 1854. He was fully occupied from that tine on, in that locality, in farming, lumbering and in mer- cantile life for some fifteen years, but in the fall of 1870 came to the United States and settled at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Em- ployed in lumbering he remained there until June of the following year, when he removed

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to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he followed the trade of stone mason until the fall of 1872, at which time he went to St Paul, Minnesota. In the latter city he rented a stone quarry and was employed in getting out stone for four years. In the spring of 1876 Mr. Beaudette came to the Red River Valley with some fifteen others, driving a team from St. Paul to Red Lake Falls, Minne- sota. He took a claim of 160 acres, in what is now the town of Gentilly, and put up the first claim shanty therein.

The subject of this memoir has been one of the most active men in public affairs in the town, and, while Gentilly and Red Lake Falls townships were under one civil organ- ization served as chairman of the town board for three years. Prominently identified with the setting off as a separate township, that of Gentilly, which was named after his native village, he was made chairman of the board and continued in that office for three years. He was also connected with the school board for a period of six or seven years, consecutively.

Mr. Beaudette is the owner of a fine farm of 200 acres of land, a large share of which is under a high state of cultivation. In 1882, after having carried on mercantile business in Gentilly, and to afford his children the advantages of the schools of Crookston, removed thither after purchasing his present property on Broadway. Here he has spent every winter since, although he still carries on his farm. In the spring of 1888 he opened his present grocery business, under the firm name of Beaudette & Son, his son Alexander being associated with him in trade. The latter was appointed postmaster of the town of Gentilly in September, 1882, and held that office until the spring of 1888, when he resigned it.

The large number of all those who have the name of Beaudette are, in fact, direct descendants of one John Beaudette, who

was the first of this name that came to Canada from France. This John Beaudette came from Blanzais, Bishopic of Poictiers, in France, in 1670. He was married to Miss Marie Grandin, from St .. Aubert, Bishopic of Orleans, France. John Beaudette was born in 1650, his wifein 1651. In which portion or place of Canada they settled is not fully known, but as near as can be traced out it. was in the vicinity of Quebec. They were blessed with six children, of which number of these were boys or girls is not fully known .. The father of the subject of this memoir (Joseph Beaudette), whose name was Amable Beaudette, was a grandson of this John Beaudette, and, as record shows us to-day, he was the ablest mechanic in the whole prov- ince of Quebec. Many machines of general usages to the farmer, such as wind-mills, portable saw-mills, etc., were invented by him, and among this number was the first threshing machine ever made in Canada.

The subject of these memoirs, Joseph Beau- dette, was one of his children, and was born in 1829-May 10. He was married to Marie Ida Chandonnais. They had a large family of eight children, seven boys and one girl. The first born was a boy by the name of Joseph Albert, and then followed Josephine, Alexander, Edmund, Louis, Charles, Ludger and the last, Ernest Beaudette, who was born on the 29th of June, 1869.

ODERICK SMITH. Among the more prominent citizens of the county of Polk, Minnesota, is the gentleman whose name graces the head of this article. He is the present postmaster of Carman, the man- ager of the Red River Valley .Elevator Company's business at that point, and one of its leading merchants.

Mr. Smith is a native of the Dominion of Canada, having been born September 10, 1855,

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at Perth, in the province of Ontario, and is the son of Roderick and Ann (Kirkland) Smith. He received his education in the land of his birth, and in early manhood learned the trade of carriage making. Quitting the paternal roof at the age of fifteen, he continued at that line of business for about eight years, at the expiration of which time, having made up his mind that in the great Northwest he could have a better chance to push his for- tunes, and coming to the " States," he settled in Wabasha county, Minnesota, where for a time he was employed in the district schools.

This work proving too tame and monoto- nous for his energetic, active spirit, he finally quitted it and entered into the lumber busi- ness, in which he remained about eighteen months, and then changed it for the grain busi- ness. After carrying on this line of trade at Hammond, Wabasha county, until September 10, 1882, he then came to Carman to take charge of the Red River Valley Elevator Company's business. While he was a resi- dent in Wabasha county, he entered into a partnership with M. J. Muldoon, and under the firm name and style of Smith & Mul- doon, carried on the hardware business at Hammond for two years in connection with his other business. On leaving there he dis- posed of his interest to his partner.

In the autumn of the first year that Mr. Smith spent in this county, he purchased a partially improved farm of eighty acres of excellent, arable land, within five miles of Carman where he carries on farming, super- intending and managing it himself. At the same time he bought the house and Jot in the village where he now lives. In January, 1887, on looking around for a good invest- ment for his surplus capital, and entering into a copartnership with J. F. Fisk, under the firm name of R. Smith & Co., established the general merchandise store that leads the mercantile circles of the village.

Our subject was appointed to the office of

postmaster at Carman in July, 1888, and fills that position at the present writing. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in Crookston Lodge, No. 141, A. F. & A. M., and is also a member of Pierson Chapter, No. 40, R. A. M., and of Constantine Commandery, No. 20, all of Crookston, and takes a lively interest in all the workings of that order. He is a thoroughly wide-awake, energetic business man, foremost in any enterprise that is calcu- lated to benefit his locality, and no one stands higher in the respect and esteem of this com- munity than he. He handles more wheat at the elevator where he lias charge than any other man in this region, and has, by his unimpeachable probity and generous treat- ment, won many friends in the county.

Mr. Smith was united in marriage Decem- ber 19, 1881, with Miss Lizzie J. Thornton, a native, also, of Perth, Ontario, Canada, and daughter of John and Mary Ann (Madden) Thornton. They are the parents of three children-Minnie Ross Katina, Bernard Lynn and Roderick Thornton.

ALBERIC CHABOT, the popular pro- prietor of the New York Store, lo- cated at Crookston, Minnesota, is a native of Montreal, Canada. He is the son of Vital and Mary (Domethille) Chabot, and first saw the light in April, 1860. He attended school in the place of his birth until he had attained the age of fifteen years, when he entered a dry goods establishment in the same city as clerk and salesman. So well had he chosen his place in the " world's broad field of bat- tle" that for four years he remained with the same firm, his talent lying in tliat direc- tion and his energy, activity and ability being duly appreciated by his employer.

But in the overcrowded cities the chances of a young man to arrive at a competence

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are but few, and but little encouragement can be held out there to the man of small means. Possessed of this idea Mr. Chabot came to the United States and sought a place where he could locate and prosper. This was in the spring of 1879, and at that time he came to Crookston. Entering the employ of Charles Kretzschmar, as clerk in his gen- eral merchandise store, he remained there some two years. From the expiration of that time until March, 1888, he was variously employed in the city, but on the latter date he opened his present business stand, where he carries a stock of general dry goods, cloaks and clothing, gents' funishing goods, carpets, trunks, valises, rubber goods, etc., that will invoice upward of $12,000. He gives em- ployment to four clerks and is doing a large and increasing business, and his name is beginning to be a household name through- out the country surrounding.

While working here on a salary he had the prudence and economy to save his money, and sagacity to see that real estate was a paying investment to a young man at that time. He bought and sold any and all property, both real and personal, and with ability and busi- ness tact succeeded in accumulating quite a nice little capital. Besides his mercantile venture Mr. Chabot is the present owner of two fine farms, one of which is within eight miles of Crookston, besides real estate in the latter city and in St. Paul. A shrewd, keen business man, of the strictest probity, he occupies a high place in business circles and in social life is a leader.

R. CLARENCE S. PUTNAM, physician and surgeon at Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a native of Ver- mont, and was born in the year 1859. He is the son of George B. and C. Eliza (Jones) Putnam, both natives of Vermont.

The Doctor's father was a druggist and for many years held the position of postmaster in the place in which he resided. Prior to this, however, he was in the general mercan- tile business. He enlisted in the United States Army, Company G, Eighth Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, being one of the musi- cians for the regimental band. He was over- come by severe marching, and as a result of this strain upon his constitution, died in the hospital in Baltimore. The mother is still living with her son in Fergus Falls. The grandfather was Deacon Simon Putnam, a. large farmer at West Randolph, Vermont, of which State he was a native, and where he occupied a prominent position as one of the leading wealthy citizens of that section. The mother of the subject of our sketch was the daughter of Captain Jones, a sea-faring man, but in later life engaged in farming in the northern part of Vermont, where he lived until his death. He reared a family of seven children.

Dr. Putnam was the only child of liis father's family. His younger days were spent at home and in attending district school. Later he took an academic course and worked on a farm during vacations. He also engaged to some extent in clerking. He graduated from the Barre Academy, at Barre, Vermont. He then spent eighteen months clerking in a drug store. Six months there- after were spent in the same employment in a grocery store. After this he commenced the study of medicine, graduating in 1883. He attended lectures in Philadelphia and New York City, and also a course in Chicago, where he graduated. After graduating in medicine, he first settled at Moorhead, where he remained for nearly two years. Thence he removed to Ada, Norman county, Minne- sota, remaining in that place for about four years. Thence in July, 1888, he removed to Fergus Falls. While living at Ada, he was county physician for two years, and was

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chairman of the board of health until he left that place. While there he was the director of the Ada band, of which he was the organizer and leader. He also organized the Ada orchestral club, consisting of fourteen instru- ments, organized solely for recreation ; also held the position of captain of Company I, Third Regiment, Minnesota National Guards; and for two years was foreman of one of the fire companies.

Dr. Putnam was married in 1882 to Miss Celia E. Johnson, of West Unity, New Hamp- shire. This union has been blessed with one child, a daughter-Vera M.

The Doctor is possessed of excellent musical- abilities, and plays on nearly all kinds of instruments. He has led musical conven- tions, organized and led orchestras, taught singing school, organized and led church choirs, and been at the head of different military bands. He is at present the chorister of the First Congregational church of Fergus Falls. In politics he stands by the princi- ples of the republican party. He is a mem- ber of the State Homoeopathic Medical Institute. Dr. Putnam is a genial, warm- hearted friend and companion, is an excel- lent physician, and is highly esteemed by all his fellow-citizens.

AM THORSON. Among the success- ful business men and merchants of Northern Minnesota is the subject of the present biographical memoir, a resident of the village of Fisher, Polk county, Minne- sota, where he is engaged in the general merchandising business. He is a native of Norway, born June 9, 1856, and is the son of Thorbjorn and Liv Svendsen, natives also of the kingdom of Norway.

Mr. Thorson emigrated to the United States in 1871, and settled with his parents in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where he remained

and worked for farmers and attended the common schools. In 1877 he removed to the village of Fisher, and obtained work on a steamboat as cabin boy from Fisher to Winnipeg during that summer. In the fall he hired out to Hugh Thompson as clerk in his store. He worked for him three years and during that time took a homestead on section 4, Fisher township, Polk county, Minnesota. He sold his farm in 1887, and during the time of his owning it had im- proved and cultivated the land. After leav- ing Mr. Thompson Mr. Thorson lived on his homestead a short time, and after selling his farm again engaged in .Mr. Thompson's store. In October, 1886, he engaged in business for himself, in partnership with a Mr. Krostue, and has since been engaged in the general merchandising trade. The firm are now doing an extensive business and are one of the first business firms in the village. They carry a full line of goods, all kinds of clothing, gents' and ladies' furnishing goods and a heavy stock of groceries and notions.

Mr. Thorson was united in marriage on the 1st of November, 1881, to Miss Julia Knutson, and she died in Fisher on the 9th of September, 1882, sincerely mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Thorson was married the second time July 26, 1888, to Miss Jen- nie Knutson, of Wisconsin, a sister of liis former wife. He and his family belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church. In polit- ical matters Mr. Thorson affiliates with the republican party and takes an active interest in all public and local affairs. He is one of the popular men of the village and is highly esteemed by his acquaintances.

LE TORSTENSON, a prominent and well-to-do,citizen of . Grant county, Minnesota, is a resident of section 23, Elk Lake township. He is a native of Norway,

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born in Christena Stift, December 31, 1841, and is a son of Torsten and Mary (Nils Daughter) Torstenson, natives also of that kingdom. The father of our subject was engaged in agricultural pursuits in the old country. He died there in March, 1845. The mother came to America, with lier son Ole, the subject of this present sketch. They were the parents of two children-Ole and Regnald.

Ole Torstenson, the person of whom this article treats, remained in the kingdom of Norway until 1862, when he with his mother and sister emigrated to the United States. After a voyage of twelve weeks they landed at Quebec, Canada, and at once went to Detroit, Michigan. From that place the party, composed of our subject, his mother and sister, went to Lansing, Iowa, via Chi- cago, Illinois, and Galena, stopping a few days in each of the places mentioned. From Lansing they went overland to Spring Grove, Houston county, Minnesota, and on arriving there rented a tract of land, and for the next four years were engaged in farming near that place. They then removed to Grant county, Minnesota, where Ole, the subject of this biography, filed on a homestead and then returned to Houston county. After working in the pineries dur- ing the winter lie returned to Grant county. and took possession of the homestead which he had taken the year previous. His land lies on section 23, Elk Lake township, and comprises 160 acres. He is engaged in a general farming and stock-raising business, and is one of the oldest settlers in the town- ship in which he lives. When he located in the township there were but three settlers, and these have either removed or been taken away by death, until only Mr. Torstenson remains.

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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 59

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