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 61

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 61
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 61

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placed in numerous positions of trust. He was a representative in the New Hampshire legislature for two terms; was a man of large influence, and was respected in life and lamented in death. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and Mr. Page at all times held important church offices.

Hon. Henry G. Page spent his younger days working hard on the farm, and attending school at such times as he could be spared from the farm work. He attended an acad- emy in his own county and the Northfield Seminary in Merrimack county, New Hamp- shire. He returned to the farm and later came West with his father, remaining on the farm for some time after his father's death. After his father's decease he commenced in the banking business in Lanark, Illinois, in which business he was associated with his brother-in-law, Mr. Van Vechter. This busi- ness was continued until 1870, when Mr. Page's health became poor, and he withdrew from the banking business, coming to Minne- apolis, Minnesota, where he spent two years. At the end of this period he came to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and organized the First National Bank of that place, of which he was made president, and Mr. Compton was elected cashier. He continued liis connec- tion with this bank until 1883, at which time he formed a stock company and built what is known as the Page Flouring Mills, two miles up the river from Fergus Falls on a branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Prior to this date he had, in 1872, built the first flouring mill in Fergus Falls, with R. H. Scott as a part- ner. The surrounding country was supplied with the commodity made at this mill, and calls for flour came from exceedingly long distances, much of it being carried down the Red river on flat boats to Winnipeg. In 1881 he was one of the stock company that built the Fergus Flour Mills. In 1883

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he purchased a controlling interest in the Fergus Falls Bank. He has interested him- self to a considerable extent in the lands of this Western country, and at this writing owns over 1,500 acres near the city. He raises a large number of cattle and horses and has some good specimens of Holstein, Short-horn, and Polled-Angus cattle and Hambletonian horses.

Mr. Page was married in 1867 to Miss Alice Humphrey, a native of New York. She was the daughter of Horace and Johanna Humphrey. Mr. and Mrs. Page have had one child - Henry G.

Mr. Page has hield many important posi- tions in the government of his town and county, and has also been honored by offices of trust in the government of the State. He has held the office of mayor of the city of Fergus Falls for three years; has been treasurer of the independent school board and a member of the same since 1873. From 1874 to 1879 he served in the senate of the legislature of Minnesota. In politics he has always been a warm republican, and, in all the counsels of that party in his county, and in the State as well, has proven himself to be an intelligent and liberal supporter. He holds the position of treasurer of the Fergus Flour Mills, and also of the Page Flour Mills, and is president of the Page Milling Com- pany. In every way he has been interested in the growth of the city, and has at all times been willing and able to push her interests to the front. Mr. Page enjoys the esteem, respect and confidence of all his townsmen.

EORGE C. WILDE, who is engaged in the insurance business in the village of Carman, is one of the most active business men of Polk county, Minnesota. He was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada,

December 7, 1842, and is the son of Andrew and Catharine (Carscallen) Wilde. His boy- hood, youth and early manhood were spent upon the farm, and he received a most excel- lent education, laying its foundation in the common schools of his native land, and in the grammar school, and finishing with a full course at a commercial college. He remained, engaged in agricultural pursuits, upon the paternal acres until he was some twenty-six years of age, when he entered a clothing store, and there, for a year, filled the position of clerk. At the end of that time he was employed by a wholesale con- fectionery house as their traveling salesman, and carried their samples throughout his native Province. In 1874 he abandoned the " grip," and, coming to Manitoba, took up a farm near Morris, and during the succeeding twelve years made agriculture his chief busi- ness. During the exciting days of the boom in Manitoba Mr. Wilde, in company with a Mr. Nugent, went to Emerson, in that Province, and purchased two farms adjoining that town. By the first of the following year they had their land surveyed and platted into city lots and placed on the market. During the months of January and February their sale of lots amounted to $30,000, and they closed out the balance at a later date, for $45,000 more. This was while he was still on his farm. He remained on the latter until 1886, when he rented his place, and removed to Devil's Lake, Dakota, and there, first, engaged in the insurance business, making that his headquarters until the fall of 1887. On the latter date he came to Carman, and now has charge of this district as special agent of the Minnesota Fire Insurance Association. He is a most active and honorable business man, and thoroughly understands his calling, having given the subject much study, and in the work in which he is engaged is giving infi- nite satisfaction to the company and his

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patrons as well as being profitable to him- self. He still holds his farm of 320 acres near Morris, and retains an interest in 400 lots in the town of Emerson, on which the new Red River Valley Railroad has just built its depot.

Mr. Wilde is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in Hiram Lodge, A. F. and A. M., of Kildonan, Canada, but is now a member of King Solo- mon Lodge, of Morris.

Mr. Wilde was first married in April, 1878, to Miss Eliza J. McLeod, an English lady, and a daugliter of James and Grace McLeod, of Canada. She died in 1880, leaving one child - Lorne. Mr. Wilde was again married September 27, 1883, to Miss Ida G. Smith, a native of Forest, Ontario, Canada, and the daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Adams) Smith. By this marriage they are the parents of three children - Thomas E., Edna and Karl J.

- EV. SAMUEL H. KING, the pastor of the Presbyterian church at Fisher, Polk county, Minnnesota, is one of the ablest pul- pit orators in the famous Red River Valley. He is a native of Indiana, born at Fort Wayne, Indiana, on the 28th day of April 1861, and is the son of George E. and Eliza M. (Kraft) King, natives of the State of Ohio. The father was a railroad engineer and set- tled in Fort Wayne, in 1860. The father and mother of our subject were the parents of the following-named children-Samuel H. King, George E. King, Franklin Gorham King, Ida C. King, Edward King and Charles King.

Mr. King, the gentleman of whom this sketch treats, lived with his parents and attended the excellent public schools in the city of his birth until he had attained the age of twenty years. In 1881 he entered the

Blackburn University at Carlinville, Illinois, and from which he graduated with high honors, taking the degree 'of A. B. After leaving the college at Carlinville, Mr. King entered the Presbyterian Seminary at Chi- cago, Illinois, and in April, 1886, graduated from the same. In the fall of the same year he removed to the village of Fisher, Polk county, Minnesota, where he took charge of ' the Presbyterian church. He also has charge of the Presbyterian church at Marias. On the 30th of May, 1887, Reverend King was installed and ordained by the Red River Presbytery, and has since had charge of the congregation in Fisher.

Reverend King was united in marriage on the 19th of April, 1886 to Miss Gertrude Dorn, the daughter of B. O. Dorn and Lizzie (Riggs) Dorn, natives of Ohio. Mr. Dorn is a com- mission merchant in Chicago, Illinois, to which city he removed in 1882. Reverend King is a man of extensive learning and excel- lent ability. He is one of the most forcible speakers in the northwestern part of the State, and is universally esteemed and appre- ciated by his acquaintances. He hasa large circle of warm friends both in and out of tlie church, and is popular with all. In political matters he is an adherent to the principles of the prohibition party. He is actively engaged in the work of the I. O. O. F. of this village, and a member of the Sons of Temperance.

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ORBERT BARRETT, of the city of Crookston, Minnesota, is one of the earliest settlers of that place, having located in that vicinity in 1876. A native of the Dominion of Canada, he was born in the city of Quebec in 1853, and until 1870 made his home in the land of his birth, where he availed himself of the excellent educational advantages offered to the youth of that

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country. At the age of seventeen he emi- grated to the United States and after about a month passed in Duluth, located at St. Paul. Being entirely dependent upon his own energy and ability for his maintenance and success in life he adopted the trade of shoemaking, which he followed closely for some six years in that city. His devotion to business and commendable industry brought its accustomed reward and he slowly accum- ulated the nucleus of his present fortune. In the centennial year, 1876, in company with his father-in-law, Joseph Beaudette, and a party consisting of some thirteen or four- teen others, with over twenty teams, horses and cattle, he came to Polk county, Minne- sota, and shortly after their arrival, made a homestead claim in what is now the town of Gentilly, in which subdivision of the county he put up one of the first cabins· between Crookston and Red Lake. His wife join- ing him here shortly after he made his home upon his claim until the autumn of the same year, when he removed to the then infant village of Crookston, and having pur- chased a lot which fronted upon Roberts street, and erected the necessary building, opened the pioneer shoemaking establish- ment of. the place. In the spring of 1877 he returned to his farm and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits with his accustomed energy. Bringing to his busi- ness an ability and tact superior to the ordi- nary farmer, by the exercise of these and the close adherence to the rules of prudence and economy he soon acquired a sufficient competence for all his wants. He is the' present owner of a fine store building in the business portion of the city, two fine resi- dences, all of which are let to good tenants. In 1882 he disposed of his farm and removed to Crookston, where he has since made his residence, although not actively engaged in the business circles of the place.

A man of sterling character and impeach-

able integrity, Mr. Barrett occupies a high place in the esteem and regard of his fellow- citizens, and with his family enjoys the respect of all.

While a resident of St. Paul the subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Beaudette, the daughter of Joseph Beaudette, formerly of that city but later of Polk county, Minnesota. By this union there has been born a family of nine children, only four of whom are now living -Stephen, Jeannette, Arthur and Margaret, all of whom still reside with their parents.

OHN G. BERGQUIST is an enterpris- ing citizen of Moorhead, Minnesota, and a successful farmer and brick manufacturer. He has the honor of being the second one to locate in Moorhead.

He is a native of Sweden, born January 11, 1849. His parents are Magnus and Carrie (Peterson) Bergquist, of Sweden. The father · was a farmer and also worked at- carpentering. He died in 1887. The mother still lives in the land of her birth. They were the parents of seven children-Johan- nah, Maea, Mary, Sarah L., John G., Peter J. and Emmie C. John G. and Peter J. are the only children in America, the last men- tioned is a merchant at Fargo, Dakota Ter- ritory. The parents were prominent people in their country and lived faithful lives, according to the Lutheran faith.

Our subject remained at home with his parents until eighteen. years of age attending school and helping his father. He came to Ainerica in 1868, settling at Janesville, Wis- consin, where he only remained for a short time and then came to Goodhue county, Minnesota, working on a farm until 1870, when he took a homestead, where the court house and jail now stands, in Moorhead, comprising 146 acres. He made improve-

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ments, including the erection of a log house. He afterward purchased fifty acres adjoin- ing this homestead. He lived there until 1885, when he bought his present place, upon which he built a frame house, filling the walls with brick, thus well providing against the cold wintry blasts of this latitude. He also built a good granary and barn. He started his brick yard in Comstock Place, where he purchased two blocks, in 1881, and operated the same for two years. In 1883 he started a brick yard on his own place of eighty acres. He makes a fine grade of cream-colored brick and does an extensive and paying business, usually working eighteen men in his yard.

He is a single man, and in his political views is a republican, and takes much interest in all things connected with the county and State in which he lives. As has been stated in the first lines of this sketch, Mr. Berg- quist was the second man to settle at Moor- head. He first stopped with Job Smith, in the old Stage House. He was in Smith's employ at $1 per day, and used his oxen to draw logs with which he built his house upon his homestead, above spoken of, giving the same price per day for the use of the ox teams, which he received from Smith as wages. He has seen the then wild romantic scenes of Moorhead and the great Red River Valley of the North changed to a perfect garden spot and grain field.

Mr. Bergquist has been prominently iden- tified with the progress and development of Moorhead and vicinity. In 1882 he erected the bank block at Moorhead, and in company with others erected the building now occupied by the Cavallin College. The bank block cost about $40,000, and is four stories high-75x90 feet in size. He also erected a store building north of the bank block, which is now used as a harness shop. He has also built a dwelling-house near the Cavallin College.

ELIX FOURNET, a wholesale dealer in wines and liquors at Crookston, Polk county, Minnesota, came to that place in 1878, and opened a saloon. This he oper- ated until the following year when he rented the Central House and became its landlord. In 1880 he purchased the property and at once rebuilt it, enlarging and improving it considerably. He carried on the hotel until 1885, when he sold and removed the build- ing, and on its site erected the edifice known as Fournet's Block. This is a handsome brick structure 50x75 feet in area, three stories high with a basement beneath. Upon the first or ground floor are two fine store rooms; on the second are offices, and the third is occupied as the Masonic lodge room. This property was put up at an expense of $15,000, and is one of the finest in the city. For about two years Mr. Fournet was not engaged in business, but in 1887 he initiated his present establishment in a building which he also owns besides his residence.

When our subject came here the population of Crookston consisted of but about three hundred people, and where the block named after him stands was occupied by standing timber. He has been a witness of the rapid growth of the city, and the settling up of the surrounding country, and has here found the fortune that he enjoys at the present. He came to this part of the State with but little capital, and his handsome competence is the result of his labors in the community in which he lives.

Mr. Fournet is a native of France, born in 1853. He remained in the land of his birth, learning the trade of bricklayer and mason in his youth, until the close of the war be- tween the empire of Germany and France in 1870, when he left his home and sought within the United States a new home. Landing in the City of New York, he there commenced work at his trade and followed it there and in other localities until 1878,

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when he came to Crookston and settled as related above, and has been a resident here ever since.

The subject of our sketch and Miss Florine Berthiaume were united in marriage, in Jan- uary, 1881.

AMES E. O'BRIEN, the senior of the firm of J. E. O'Brien & Co., hardware dealers of the city of Crookston Minnesota, is among the leading and influential members of the business circles of that community. He is a native of Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois, born May 10, 1860. At the age of sixteen years he commenced to learn the trade of tinsmith, in Belvidere, and remained in that place, following that avocation, both as apprentice and as journeyman until the spring of 1883. At that time, being impressed with the necessity of a young man's going West if he would succeed in life, he came to Crookston and engaged at his trade while looking around for a suitable location, where his chances would be good of starting an establishment of his own. In this way passed the fall and winter of that year and the spring of 1884, but the follow- ing summer he and D. S. Bray formed a copartnership, and under the firm name and style of Bray & O'Brien put in a stock of hardware, in Crookston. For about eigh- teen months they carried on this business, when the subject of this sketch purchased the interest of his partner and the present firm was formed. They carry a large and well-assorted stock of heavy and shelf hard- ware and its usual concomitants, that will invoice from $12,000 to $15,000, and are doing an extensive business over a wide expanse of country. The known integrity of the firm, their painstaking and obliging manner together with the quality and prices of their goods have built up for them a

lucrative connection, and they enjoy the esteem and respect of all with whom they come in contact, either in business or social circles.

Mr. O'Brien is more or less interested in city real estate, and in whatever promises to increase the prosperity and welfare of the people of the community as well as himself. He has been an active and zealous member of the fire department ever since its organiza- tion, and was the chief engineer for one year.

HOMAS A. THOMPSON. Among the most enterprising and respected mem- bers of the farming community of the famous Red River Valley and Park Regions of Min- nesota is the gentleman, whose name heads this biographical sketch. He is a resident of section 7, Elk Lake township, Grant county, Minnesota, and is a native of the State of Minnesota. He was born in Winona county, on the 7th of December, 1855, and is the son of Ole and Sophia (Weak) Ringe. They were the parents of eight children, named in the following order-Thomas, Martin E., Alfred, Maggie, Martha, Olavos, Charley, Mann and Beroy (deceased.)

The subject of the present article received his education and grew to manhood in Min- nesota. He attended school until he had reached the age of twenty-one years. He then remained at home for two or three years and in about 1878, bought a farm on section 7 in Elk Lake township, Grant county, Minnesota. He has since remained on this place engaged, extensively and suc- cessfully, in a general farming and stock- raising business. He is one of the influen- tial and prominent farmers of that section and has one of the most desirable farms in Grant county. He has the best of building improvements and his farm is supplied with a dense growth of heavy and light timber,

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besides the beautiful grove which surrounds his buildings. He has a large barn and a commodious residence. His farm comprises 165 acres of good rich land, about eighty acres of which is under cultivation.

Mr. Thompson was united in marriage on the 29th of December, 1878, to Miss Caroline Peterson and this union has been blessed with six children-Martha, Clara, Oscar, Josephine, John and Maggie. Mrs. Thompson is a native of Sweden and emi- grated to the United States with her parents in 1868. They are residing in Grant county, engaged in farming in Elk Lake township. Mr. Thompson is a republican in his political affiliations and takes an active interest in all public and educational matters. He has held the office of justice of the peace for two years, also supervisor for two or three years. He and his family are exemplary members of the Lutheran church, of which organiza- tion he is a deacon.

UDOLF WEGENER is the proprietor of the Alexandria Steam Brewery. He resides and has his business located in Alexandria, Minnesota. He is a native of Germany, and was born in the year 1844. Mr. Wegener is the son of Frederick and Augusta (Otto) Wegener. Her father was the owner of Frederick Ruh in Germany, and was one of the very wealthy men of that country. Frederick was in the employ of the Government throughout his life. He had a family of sixteen children, ten of whom are now living-Doretta, Louise, Fredericka, Otto, Rudolf, Carl, Gustaf, Beate, Richard and Margarite. Three sisters, with our sub- ject, came to America-Doretta, Fredericka and Margarite, all of whom are in the West.

Mr. Wegener spent his early life at home, attending school until he was seventeen years of age. Before this time he was apprenticed

to learn the brewery business and worked in that line for two and a half years. He then enlisted as a soldier, and spent three years in the German army, and was in the war between Prussia and Austria. He held the position of corporal. Later he remained at home with his parents for one and a half years, and in 1870 came to America, landing in New York City. From thence he came to Wisconsin, where he worked at his trade in Milwaukee, and for a part of the time in Chicago. In 1876 he came to Minnesota and located at Alexandria, where he built his fine stone brewery, which is one of the largest buildings in the city. It covers an area of over 160x75 feet, with numerous additions to this main building. His bottling estab- lishment is 20x24 feet. He owns a fine dwelling near the brewery, where he now resides. He owns much other city property, having purchased two other dwell- . ing houses. He also owns a business house at Evansville. He is one of the busiest men in Alexandria,and constantly keeps employed eight men in his brewery, besides others to attend to other lines. He is a stockholder in the manufacturing company of Alexandria, which does a furniture business, and is a partner in the city drug store with Baum- bach and Morisse, and is at present county commissioner. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Honor and of the Order of Druids. He affiliates with the dem- ocratic party, and has for years been prom- inent in the councils of that party. He has often been a delegate to county conventions, and is looked upon as being one of the stanchest democratic politicians in the county. He is thoroughly identified with everything that pertains to the financial wel- fare of Alexandria. Mr. Wegener was mar- ried in 1873 to Miss Martha Haysen, of Chilton, Wisconsin, daughter of Cap. A. G. Haysen. Three children have blessed this union-Mary, John and William.

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SCAR L. HAMERY, the city engineer of Crookston, Minnesota, came to that place on the 5th of June, 1879, and has been identified with its interests and development ever since.

In Bergen, Norway, he was born, Novem- ber 19, 1850, and there resided until nine years of age. When but three years old his father died, and his mother in 1860 came to the United States with five of her seven children, the subject of this sketch among them, and settled in Rice county, Minne- sota, near Northfield, where they arrived July 4, a sister of the subject of this sketch having married and settled there.

Oscar at once found employment on a farm, receiving but a pair of overalls , and a blouse for three or four months' work, and in the fall went to a brother-in-law of his sister's. Being told to go to school he found the school-house too far off, so made his home with various friends of the family that winter and attended the school. The next spring he went to work for a man who, at the end of the month, paid him half a dollar, the first money he had ever earned, and the first time he had ever owned so much money. He keeps that coin as a relic of those days. For a year or two he worked around among the farmers, and then went to Northfield and entered the employ of Dr. Coon. At the expiration of that engagement he went to Waseca county, and worked on a farm all summer.

In the fall of 1864 he went to school in Faribault, and in spite of hardship, poverty and incessant labor acquired considerable information. In the following summer he went to work in a store in Northfield, and between the time passed there, in the har- vest field and at school, filled out the time until January, 1867. Having acquired some knowledge of book-keeping, he was then taken into the office of the firm with whom he was employed, and remained with them

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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 61

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