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 63

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 63
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 63

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The family remained in the latter place until some three years had elapsed, when they removed to Boston, Massachusetts, but aftera few months' delay came west, and located at Chicago. That metropolis of the West was then in its infancy, and contained in

its trade circles but two grocery stores, one for the sale of dry goods and one for the sale of clothing. Three years in that place were passed by the family, when from there they came by stage to Galena, Illinois, and from the latter to St. Paul by boat, arriving in the State capital, then but a small village, in the month of July, 1850.

On the 21st of November, 1851, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Dr. Charles L. Vischar, who had been a surgeon in the army during the Mexican War, with whom she lived happily for some three years, when he was snatched away by death, leaving her considerable property. She manifested her ability to battle with the world at this period, attending to all her own business, buying and speculating in real estate, putting up houses for rent, and doing quite a trade of that character.

On the 4th of March, 1870, the widow Vischar was united in marriage with Pascal Laschapelle, and in the fall of the same year removed to Otter Tail Lake, then a. new point on the Northern Pacific Railroad. Putting up a building, she put in a stock of groceries and liquors, which her husband ran for her. Indians at that time were quite plentiful in that neighborhood, and one night, in the following January, while alone in the house, which was in the rear of the store, preparing to retire for the night, as it was eleven o'clock, the rear door was broken open and five drunken Indians pre- sented themselves. Not feeling any fear of them, she grabbed a hatchet, that was used for splitting kindling wood that lay handy, and faced them. She soon found that they wanted to go through to the store, which, of course, she would not permit. The three elder savages stood awhile brandishing their knives and tomahawks, giving her to under- stand that it was at her peril that she con- fronted them. The two younger ones slipped to the front of the others, and, in their own

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language, induced them to retire, at the same time showing friendly feelings for the brave woman, who so courageously stood in defense of her property. It seems that these latter redskins were the sons of an old Indian woman that Mrs. Laschapelle had befriended and they, knowing her, were not backward in her defense.

Everything being quieted down, she got her shawl to go with the Indians to another place about a block and a half distant, where she hoped to find her husband. On her arrival at the outside of the latter saloon, she found herself in the presence of a riot or row among a lot of drunken Frenchmen, who were belaboring one another. Bottles were flying through the air and out through the windows, and not feeling inclined to venture in such a place, she preferred to face drunken Indians alone. After standing in the snow, with the Indians, to see if the row would terminate, for more than half an hour, she sorrowfully turned away and returned to her own house, accompanied by her copper-colored escort. She went inside, alone, and, closing the door, prepared to watch through the night. About half an hour had elapsed when she heard a terrible crash and found the front door of the store broken in by the three savages who had made the first attack. Seizing an ax she placed her- self at the doorway, bravely holding the Indians in check. Her dauntless behavior plainly awed them, and after keeping her there in the intense cold for an hour and a half or more, quietly stole away. It was reported to the Indian trader by the two younger savages that their companions would have killed her but for their repre- sentation and defense.

Mrs. Laschapelle remained in that village until the following spring, that of 1871, when she opened a hotel at Buffalo River, but the next autumn removed to Fargo and embarked in the same business, with some 180 boarders,

being well acquainted with the railway officials. In June, 1872, she, with her hus- band and niece, came to Crookston with the surveyors of this line of railroad, and, crossing the Red Lake river on a raft, looked the country over. Liking the location she came back shortly after with eleven loads of goods and opened a hotel in the place. This was the principal hostelry in the place for years, but when the road to Fisher's Landing was finished she removed to that place where she again engaged in hotel-keeping. Three years later she returned to Crookston and built another hotel, which she presided over for two years and then gave it up. She is the owner of a block and a quarter in the city, five houses, besides the one she resides in, which she rents, and two farms of 160 acres each in the country, one of them her original claim made in 1872. For a woman of her age she is one of the most active and well preserved, and attends to all her own business with marked ability.

CHRISTIAN ABERLE is the proprietor of the Northwestern Brewery in Alex- andria, Douglas county, Minnesota. He was born at Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1840. His parents, George and Mary (Lehman) Aberle, were both natives of Germany. The father was an extensive farmer in his native country. The mother died at her home in Germany in 1864. In 1878 the father came to America and is now living with his daughter in Wisconsin. They had a family of seven children, six of whom are now liv- ing - George, Andrew, Fred, Christina, Mary and Christian.

Christian Aberle was reared on the home farm in Germany, and attended school until he was sixteen years old. At this time he commenced a five years' service in the brewery trade. At the end of these five

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years he served as a soldier for three years. In 1874 he migrated to America, finding a location in Pierce county, Wisconsin, where he worked at his trade one year. At the end of this time he came to Alexandria, Minne- sota, and opened a grocery store, in which business he continued for five years. At this time he built his present brewery, which is a building of the following dimensions : 28x70, 28x80, 38x42, 18x40, and 24x24 feet, all in one building, finely finished and painted. He does an extensive business, keeps four men in his employ, and ships beer of his manufacture East, West, North and South. Mr. Aberle has other interests in which he is engaged. He owns a saloon building and has other valuable property in the city. He owns and runs 360 acres of farming land. In politics Mr. Aberle is a democrat and belongs to the order of Druids. He is one of the solid, substantial business men of the city and county. He was mar- ried in 1877 to Miss Dora Wasner, of Ger- many, by whom he has had five children- Fred A., Paulina, Caroline, Millie and Clara.

MERY D. NORTH, until recently en- gaged in farming at Glyndon village, Clay county, Minnesota, but now a resident of Moorhead, is a native of New York. He was born in Milford, Otsego county, New York, April 10, 1836, and is a son of Germain North. His parents were natives of the Empire State. The father, who was engaged in farming, came to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he remained until the time of his death in 1867. The mother died in 1841 ; she was the mother of three boys and three girls-Daniel, Rebecca, William, Mary, Hannah and Emery. The father of Germain North was Daniel North, one of the earliest settlers of Clarksville, Otsego county, New York. He was a dealer in horses, and he

would drive them from Otsego county to New York City, the horse market at that time. The subject of this biographical sketch remained on the home farm, attending the common schools until he was twenty years of age. In 1856 he came to St. Paul, Min- nesota, where he worked on a farm until the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted in Company K, Eighth Minnesota Infantry, and served three years, when he was honorably discharged. During the three years he never lost a day, and although in many brisk engagements he received no wound. He was with General Sully, in the expedition in Montana, through the Bad Lands, two years in the Indian War, then in the fall of 1864 in the South at Nashville, Murfreesboro, etc. After his discharge he returned to St. Paul, Minnesota, and again engaged in farming, remaining there until 1868. In 1868 he was employed by the Government to take charge of a Government farm at Red Cleft Agency, which position he occupied for two years. In 1870 he came to Clay county, Minnesota, where he took a homestead of 160 acres in Morland township and at once began improvements. He soon sold this farm, and in 1875 took another homestead of 160 acres and also a tree claim of a like number of acres. He resided in Glyndon village but carried on his farm. In 1888 he removed to Moorhead where he still lives. He is engaged in the dairy or milk business.

Mr. North has held the numerous offices while at Glyndon village, including super- visor, and at one time chairman of that body, assessor, and is the superintendent of the stock department of the Clay County Fair Association.

Mr. North was united in marriage in 1863 to Miss Isabelle McKinley, a native of Balti- more, Maryland, and the daughter of George and Margarette (McDonald) Mckinley, natives of Scotland, who emigrated to this country in 1848 and settled in Baltimore.

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In 1856 they came to Minnesota and settled in Goodhue county, where the father took a homestead, on which the parents remained until the time of their death, the mother dying in 1868 and the father in 1887. There were eleven children in Mrs. North's family. Mr. and Mrs. North are the parents of three children-Walter S., George C. and Will- iam M., all living at home with their parents except George, who is now a reporter on the Chicago Times, but formerly of the St. Paul Globe. . The family are exemplary members of the Union church. Mr. North is repub- lican in his political views, and is one of the active and prominent men of Clay county. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

ELOS JACOBUS, the efficient presi- dent and general manager of the Crookston Water Works and Light Com- pany, is probably one of the best and most widely known citizens in this part of the Red River Valley. Since the con- struction of the telegraph lines in 1872, of which work he had the charge and superin- tendence, he has been connected with the valley and its public interests, in some capacity or other. A slight sketch of this gentleman is within the scope of this work, and is hereby given.

Mr. Jacobus is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and was born April 20, 1850. When he was about four or five years of age his parents, Henry A. and Margaret (Jennor) Jacobus, removed to Crawford county, Wis- consin, which was then close to the frontier, and among the rugged hills and bluffs of that portion of the Badger State, took up a claim and commenced farming. There the subject of this memoir passed his early youth and received the elements of his education in the district schools of the county.

The War of the Rebellion broke out, and the boyish mind of our subject became filled witlı patriotism and zeal for his native country. The high and honorable feelings that animated him grew with him as the war was lengthened out, and finally, in the winter of 1864, being then but little over fourteen years of age, he decided to enlist among the brave defenders of the country. Truly appreciating the fact of his parents objecting to his " going to the front," he took "French leave " of home, and buckling on his skates, sped on "flying steel " to Prairie du Chien, the seat of justice of Crawford county, on the frozen bosom of the mighty Mississippi river. On his arrival in that town he enlisted as a volunteer in Company D, Forty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry. His age and size not being up to the standard he was mustered into the service as drummer. All this time his parents knew not what had become of him, until he sent them the money he had received as bounty, and a photograph of himself in uniform. His father at once started to Milwaukee, where the regiment then lay, to have his son re- leased, but arrived too late to effect any- thing, and a short time thereafter himself enlisted in the same regiment and was assigned as sergeant in Company I. The subject of this sketch served with the regi- ment in the States of Missouri and Arkansas, and participated in all the hardships and perils of the fratricidal strife that brought sorrow to so many households throughout our own fair land. On the expiration of the hostilities between the two sections of the country, Delos, with the regiment, was trans- ferred to the frontier and remained in the service until February, 1866, when he was discharged and returned to his boyhood's home.

In the fall of 1866 he entered the employ of the Mississippi Valley Tele- graph Company, and served for some

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years as lineman, constructor or operator. In the capacity of constructor of the tele- graph line he first visited the Red River Valley in 1872, and the following year was in the employ of the Northern Pacific Rail- road Company and located at Bismarck. In September, 1873, J. P. Farley, the receiver of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, employed him to take charge of the repairing of that road from Glyndon north. Mr. Jacobus had, for his accommodation and as a telegraph office, a cabin on a flat car, but on reaching Crookston had the house taken off, and, with two others like it, set up in the village, in which he resided some five years. He took charge of the railroad company's business at this point and acted in the capacity of agent here for some years. On account of the heavy snows no trains were then run during the winter months, so the citizens of Crook- ston, procuring the trucks from a disabled flat car further up the track, fitted them up with a platform and, rigging it with sails, would run down the road as far as Glyndon whenever necessary. They also rigged a handcar in the same manner, and made many flying trips with it for freight and passengers. These sail cars were also continued every winter until 1877.

Mr. Jacobus, during the winter of 1873-74, got out 1,750 cords of wood for the railroad company and delivered on the track. In August, 1875, the railroad company having de- cided to construct the road to Fisher's Land- ing on the river, he was sent to Winnipeg for men. Forty-five days later the first train was run over the track. Mr. Jacobus remained with the railroad company until the spring of 1879, when he entered into the lumber busi- ness.

Previous to this, however, in the spring of 1874 he was appointed deputy United States marshal, and was the firm opponent to the sale of liquor to Indians as required by law. He was the first to engage in the sale of lum-

ber, flour and feed and farm machinery in the county, and was a member of the first school board and first village council. In the spring of 1880 he was appointed appraiser of school, internal improvement and university lands, which office he held for two years. In the fall of 1882 he was appointed to fill the position of postmaster of Crookston, and served the people in that capacity until the spring of 1885. In the early part of 1882 Mr. Jacobus put in the telephone system in the city, commencing with some fifty-two instru- ments, and in the fall of 1883 extended the line to Red Lake Falls. He put in the elec- tric light system in the latter part of 1884. He, with K. D. Chase, who owned the water power, formed a stock company, which pur- chased the city water works and materially improved the latter, putting in the Holly sys- tem, and operates it in connection with the electric lights. Of this company Mr. Jaco- bus now owns the controlling interest.

Mr. Jacobus was married August 6, 1877, to Miss Margaret Ross, who liad come to Crookston from Edinburgh, Scotland, a year or so previous. Three children have blessed their union.

EORGE ARNESON, who is engaged in business at Barrett, Grant county, Minnesota, was born in Norway, March S, 1851. He remained at home with his par- ents, Jens and Cecelia (Gjertson) Arneson, attending school until he was old enough to engage in manual labor. He secured a clerkship in his father's store, at which he worked until about twenty years of age. At that age he engaged in the mercantile business for himself in Bergen, Norway, and continued in that until 1882, when he sold out and emigrated to the United States. He settled in Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, where he worked out for some few months,

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then secured the position of book-keeper for Johnson & Dahl, hardware merchants, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. In about six months he went to Rothsay, Minnesota, and for the next eighteen months was employed as book-keeper for Stordock & Peterson. He next moved to Esby, and was occupied in a similar employment for S. C. Rugland. He worked for him about nineteen months, and at the expiration of that time he came to Barrett, and put in a full stock of general merchandise for himself.

Mr. Arneson was united in marriage June 13, 1871, to Miss Olivia Johanneson, and this union has been blessed with the follow- ing children - James, Stephen, Oscar, Marga- ret, Gerhard L., Alexander and Carl J. Mr. Arneson has held the office of post- master since 1886. He is a careful and cap- able business man, and his upright dealing and honorable business methods have won him an extensive trade.

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H. LOCKEN, the senior member of the general merchandise firm of J. H. & A. Locken, of the city of Crookston, Minne- sota, came to the Red River Valley during the summer of 1879, and purchased a farm. He, however, did not make a permanent settlement here until the following year, since which time he has made this county his home.

Mr. Locken was born in the kingdom of Norway in 1854, and is the son of Haagen and Marit Locken. He received in his native land the education that all in that land are afforded, for it is the boast of that far away country that her schools are the peer of any in Europe, and that nearly all of its people can read and write. At the age of nineteen he determined to leave the land of his birth, and seek in the New World the fortune denied in the home of his fore- 1

fathers. Crossing the tempestuous Atlantic, he landed in the United States, and coming direct to Reed's Landing, Minnesota, was a resident of that part of the State until 1879, when he came to Polk county, and, liking the country, purchased a farm in Roome township. On returning here in 1880 he settled on his place and carried on agricult- ural pursuits for about two years. In the summer of 1882 he removed to the rising vil- lage of Crookston, and there engaged in the general merchandise trade with his brother under the present firm name and style. They carry a large and well assorted stock of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, crockery, and all the various lines that usually go to make up an establishment of this character, which will invoice in the neighborhood of $12,000, and are doing a large and ever increasing business. The firm is widely known as one of the most enterprising, upright and finan- cially sound in the city, and is one of the pillars of mercantile circles of the place. When the Scandia Bank was organized, in 1887, the subject of this sketch was one of the original stockholders and directors, and still holds those positions in that monetary institution. He is the owner of considerable real estate in the city, and about 1,000 acres of farm land in the town of Roome, 600 acres of which are under a high state of cultivation, and 320 acres in the town of Andover. Over 200 acres of the latter place are improved. Mr. Locken, in addition to his mercantile business, carries on, quite extensively, farming and general stock- raising, giving his personal supervision and management to everything.

Mr. Locken has been identified with the official life of the county to some extent, having filled the offices of town clerk and secretary of the school board in Roome town- ship, and was one of the leading and influen- tial citizens of that portion of the county during his residence there. Since his

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removal to Crookston he has taken a deep and zealous interest in city affairs. In 1885 he was elected one of the city council, and two years later was called upon by a majority of the citizens to fill the position of city treasurer, to which he was re-elected in the spring of 1888, and is the present incumbent of that office.

Mr. Locken is a consistent, zealous and active member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Locken was married in 1882 to Miss Julia Wennevold, and they have been the parents of four children, only two of whom, however, are now living, named Mabel and Gea.

RS. MARTHA DODGE is the widow of Albert Dodge, Esq., and is a resident of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Mr. Dodge was a native of Canada, where he was born July 12, 1835. His parents were Jacob and Phebe Dodge, natives of Vermont and of English descent.

Mr. Dodge's parents left Canada when he was nine months old and settled in New York State, where they engaged in farming for nine years. Removing thence they located in Illinois, where the father died three years later. The mother then moved the family to Wisconsin.

Albert Dodge was reared on the farm of his parents, and remained with them until he became of age. On attaining his major- ity he engaged in farming in Wisconsin for several years. In 1864 he came to Dodge county, Minnesota, where for thirteen years he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and then removing therefrom he found a location in Steele county, Minnesota. After three years in the latter county, in 1880 he came to Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, where he engaged in loaning money. He purchased lots on Channing avenue, where

he built a fine residence. He died April 3, 1888, and was buried in the beautiful Mount Faith cemetery. In politics Mr. Dodge was a republican, and was one of the leading citizens of Fergus Falls. He was an upright, honorable man, and was respected by all who knew him.

Mr. Dodge was married January 1, 1862, to Miss Martha Pearson, a native of the United States and of English descent. Her parents were Lealious and Harriet (Scott) Pearson, natives of England and farmers by occupation. The father came to America in 1843, and one year later sent for his wife and six children. They settled in Michigan, where the father purchased Government land. After eight months spent in Michigan, they removed to the State of Wisconsin, where the father lived until his death. He owned a fine farm of 200 acres and was engaged in general farming. He was a man of excellent character, and was universally respected. He had a family of twelve children, seven of whom are now living-Emma, now Mrs. Rew, with four children (Henry, Caroline, Jolın and Joseph); Samuel, who married Miss Seana Hopkins ; Mitchell, married to Miss Emma Ingersoll, by whom he has three daughters (Lillie, Laura and Helen); John, married to Eliza Field, by whom he has three children (John, Josephine and George); Martha, now Mrs. Dodge ; Jane M., now Mrs. Battie, with two children (Harriet M. and Lealious) ; and Edwin, married to Miss Emily Smith, by whom he has had two children (Percival and Lewis S.). The mother now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Martha Dodge, in her pleasant home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

ERMAN W. OLSEN. Among the farm- ing community of the famous and picturesque Park Regions of Minnesota there is no better or more favorably known repre-

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sentative citizen than the gentleman whose name heads this biographical memoir, a resi- dent of Elk Lake township, Grant county. Mr. Olsen first saw the light in Houston county, Minnesota, on the 8th of November, 1854, and is the son of Ole W. and Rachael (Samson) Olsen. The father is a resident of Barrett village, Grant county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the mercantile busi- ness. The family consisted of the following children-Ole, Samuel, Hans, James, Her- man, William, Anna, Mary, Hannah and Lena.

Herman W. Olsen, the subject of this sketch, spent his school days in Houston county, Minnesota, and at the age of twelve years came to Grant county, where he remained, attending school, until about nine- teen years of age. At the age of twenty- one he commenced life for himself by engag- ing in farm labor. In 1885 he settled on his present place, on section 8, Elk Lake town- ship, where he has since remained, engaged in a general farming and stock-raising busi- ness. He has a well cultivated tract of land of 182 acres, and is considered as one of the representative agriculturists of his residence township. Mr. Olson takes an active inter- est in all public as well as educational matters, and is a stanch republican in his political affiliations. He is a man of the utmost integrity and honor, and is highly esteemed by all who bear his acquaintance.

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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 63

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