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 68

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 68
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 68

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cratic party and is actively interested in all local movements. A man of the strictest integrity, his word is recognized as being as good as a bond. He is thoroughly wedded to his business and never tires of making a dollar or spinning a yarn.

OHN B. WELING is one of the oldest settlers of Wilkin county, Minnesota. He is a farmer on section 24, township 134, range 48, in the organized township of Mc- Cauley ville.

Mr. Weling was born in Osage county, Missouri, on the 13th day of February, 1849. He is a son of Anton and Elizabeth (Fork) Weling. Both the parents were born in Germany and emigrated to America in about 1844. The father has always been a farmer and now lives with his son. The mother died when Mr. Weling, our subject, was one and one-half years old. They were the parents of five children, two of whom still live- Louisa, and John B., our subject. Louisa is now the wife of Mr. Beneckey and they reside in Missouri. Mr. Weling was educated in the common schools of Missouri and Minnesota.

In 1859 the father, son and daughter left Missouri coming to Stearns county, Min- nesota. Here the father engaged in farming, which he continued until about 1869; the son remained at home assisting on the farm until 1866; then he came to McCauleyville, Wilkin county, Minnesota, where he clerked in the store of David McCauley, after whom the village is named. Mr. Weling continued with his employer about two years; then he engaged in the freighting business, as every commodity used in the vicinity then had to be freighted from St. Cloud, mostly with ox- teams. He also found general employment in connection with his freighting business. This he followed for about one year, when he

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came on the farm which he now occupies. In 1869 the father homesteaded 160 acres on the east bank of the Red River of the North, about three miles south of the little hamlet of McCauleyville. On account of his minority the son was then unable to file on a claim. Here the father and son have resided and farmed ever since. They are the owners of three-quarters of a section or 480 acres of land. It is all under cultivation, except fifty acres of pastur- age. The father is now retired from the active duties of the farm, but the son carries on general farming, with the neces- sary amount of stock, owning about fifty head of cattle and a number of horses.

Mr. Weling was married March 1, 1875, to Miss Anna Robbers, of St. Cloud, Minne- sota. She is a daughter of Ludvig Robbers, a farmer and saloon-keeper of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Weling are the parents of seven children - Mary, Lizzie, Louisa, Lonis, Anna, Nora and John.

Mr. Weling affiliates with the democratic party, yet he is liberal in his views and frequently supports the best man, irrespect- ive of party affiliations. He has served his county in the capacity of county commis- sioner for three years, and has held the usual town and school offices. He is not only among the earliest settlers of the Red River Valley, but is also among the most sub- stantial and solid farmers of this famed valley.

HRISTIAN J. KNUTSON. The gentle- man whose name heads this biography is a resident of Kensington village, Douglas county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in a successful general merchandising business, under the firm name of C. J. Knutson & Co. He is a native of Sweden, born on the 27th of September, 1856, and is the son of John and Anna (Nilson) Knutson, also natives of that kingdom.

Mr. Knutson, of whom this article treats, remained in his native land and attended school until he was eight years old, when he emigrated to the United States, with his parents. While on the way they were shipwrecked and for fifteen days were on the island of Anticosti, when a

steamer rescued them. After landing they located in Chicago, Illinois, where they remained three years, then moving to Good- hue county, Minnesota, where the father purchased a tract of land and remained eight years, engaged in general farming opera- tions. He then moved to Moline, Illinois, where our subject worked in the John Deere Plow Works for eighteen months, also in the Carter Planing Mills for one year. At the expiration of that time he clerked for Nelson Chester for six months, and then returned to Goodhue county, Minnesota, and after remaining one year went to Chicago, Illinois, in the fall of 1877. There he worked in a tailoring establishment for eight months, and again returned to Goodhue county, Minnesota. He then paid a visit to Traverse county, Minnesota, and took a pre- emption and tree claim and engaged in farming until 1886. In the fall of 1886 he sold the farm and went to White Rock, Dakota Territory, and opened up a general merchandise store, which he has since operated. He also owns his store in Ken- sington, Douglas county, Minnesota, and in the two stores carries a stock of $16,000. He is doing a first-class business in both localities, and is one of the prominent busi- ness men of Kensington.

Mr. Knutson was married to Miss Ellen Nilson, on the 5th of March, 1880, and this union has been blessed with five children- Anna (deceased), Selma, Joseph, Enoch and Clara. Our subject and family are mem- bers, in good standing, of the Lutheran church. He is a republican in politics and is actively interested in all local matters.

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HORVALD J. THORSON. Promi- nent among the principals of the pub- lic schools in the Red River Valley is the subject of this sketch, who is a resident of the village of Lake Park, Becker county, Minnesota, where he has charge of the graded schools. He is a native of Wisconsin, born in Waupaca county, on the 3d day of February, 1860, and is the son of Paul and Sigrid (Christenson) Thorson, natives of Norway. They, the parents of our subject, emigrated to the United States in 1857, and after a voyage of twelve weeks landed at Quebec, Canada. They at once went to Wisconsin, and settled in Waupaca county, where they have since remained, engaged in general farmning operations. They are mem- bers of the Lutheran church, and the father of our subject affiliates with the republican party. He is a respected and well-to-do farmer in tlie county in which he lives. The father and mother of the present subject were the parents of the following named children-Matilda, Thorvald, Anthon and Sophia.

Mr. Thorson, the subject of this biography, remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years old. During that time he attended the common and high schools of Waupaca county, and in the summers assisted his father operate the home farm. When he had attained the age of twenty- one years, he entered the State Normal School in Oshkosh, Winnebago county, Wis- consin, where he remained two years. At the expiration of that time he entered the State University in Madison, Wisconsin, but on account of ill health was forced to abandon his studies. He then returned home, and in 1884 removed to Becker county, Minnesota, where he taught school for some time in the eastern part of the county. He then removed to the village of Lake Park, and took charge of his present school. The school comprises three depart-

ments and is one of the best educational institutions in the county.

Mr. Thorson was united in marriage on the 3d day of September, 1888, to Miss Inger Austen, the daughter of John and Bertha S. (Olson) Austen, of Crawford county, Wis. Mr. Thorson and his estima- ble wife belong to the Lutheran church. Our subject is an.active school worker and is well and favorably known throughout the county. In political matters he is an adher- ent to the principles of the prohibition party.

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LE F. LOSETH, of Underwood, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is one of the leading citizens and foremost merchants of that place' He has a large general merchan- dise store and also deals in wood, flour and feed.

Mr. Loseth is a native of Norway, where he was born March 5, 1850. He is a son of Fred Loseth and Mary (Romnudstad) Loseth, natives of Norway. The father was a man of prominence in his native country and died there. The mother still lives in Norway.

The subject of our sketch lived at his parent's home during his early years and received good school advantages in his native land. In 1870, at twenty years of age, his desire for new scenes prompted him to emigrate to America. He landed at Que- bec, passed through that place and went to Mankato, Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he remained three months. He then went to St. Peter, Minnesota, where he lived for about one year. He next removed to St. Paul, same State, where he worked at the painting trade for one year, going from there to Underwood, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Remaining one winter in Underwood, in the spring he returned to St. Paul, where he worked at his trade

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(that of painting) until fall. He then returned to Underwood where he has since remained. In 1877 he purchased a farm and gave somewhat of his attention to farming, continuing his residence there till 1885, when he bought another farm one mile from Underwood, where he now lives. In the fall of 1887 he built a good store building in Underwood and opened the gen- eral merchandise business which he so suc- cessfully runs at present. He has a large trade and is constantly increasing his facili- ties for supplying the wants of his numerous customers. He carries a stock worth over $3,000.

Mr. Loseth was married December 8, 1874, to Miss Mary Aune, a daughter of Ole and Ingeborg Aune. Mr. and Mrs. Loseth have had seven children, six of whom are living-Fred, Odin, Johan, Johanna Marie, Henry, Juga and Clara Mathilda.

Mr. Loseth has been very successful in his business venture's and owns considerable valuable property. He owns three lots in Fergus Falls, where he built a fine dwelling in 1884, and which he rents. Mr. Loseth has held several positions of trust in his town, was township clerk for four years and has been constable. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Loseth is a man of broad ideas, is well educated and is possessed of excellent business qualifications. He holds the esteem and confidence of his fellow townsmen.

ILLIAM BAER, who is engaged in the mercantile business in the vil- lage of Frazee City, Minnesota, is a native of Minnesota. He was born in Carver county, Minnesota, and is the son of Gottlieb and Victoria (Onesorg) Baer, natives of Germany. The parents emigrated to the United States in 1850, and located in Carver county, Min-

nesota, where they remained engaged in farming until 1879, then removed to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where the father is now living a retired life. The father and mother of our subject were the parents of four children, named as follows - William, Henry, Gottlieb and Favy.

Mr. Baer, the subject of this biographical memoir, received his education in Carver county, Minnesota, where he attended school until he was sixteen years of age. He then went to Minneapolis and took a course in Curtiss' Business College. In 1878 he went to Norwood, and secured a position as clerk in the store of Matt Simonnitch, with whom he remained three years. At the expiration of that time he went to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and engaged in the mercantile and farming business for seven years. He then went to Frazee City, Minnesota, and in December, 1887, he opened his present mer- cantile store and since that time, has been actively engaged in the business. He carries a full line of goods, and is the leading hard- ware and general merchant in the village. He also holds the office of assistant postmas- ter, and while in Otter Tail county, held the offices of justice of the peace, postmaster, treasurer, etc. In political matters he is an adherent to the principles of the democratic party and is actively interested in all local matters. He is a man of the strictest honor and integrity, and any home enterprise receives his hearty support.

EORGE W. GLASPEL, M. D., one of the leading and successful medical practitioners in the northern part of the Red River Valley, is a resident of Grafton, Walsh county, North Dakota, where he is extensively engaged in his professional work. He is a native of the Dominion of Canada, born in the Province of Ontario, on the 29th

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day of April, 1864, and is the son of Frank and Tamzine (Weeks) Glaspel, natives of England.

The Doctor remained at home with his parents, attending school until he had attained the age of thirteen years, when he entered the high school at Oshawa, from which he graduated at the age of sixteen. He then went to Whitty, and attended the institute at that place, graduating with high honors in the fall of 1882. He then engaged in the profession of school-teaching, at which he was employed a little over two years, during which time he also studied medicine. At the age of twenty years he entered the medical department of the Iowa State University, at Iowa City, and on the 7th of March, 1888, graduated with high honors and received the degree of M. D. He then went to Grafton, North Dakota, to visit his brother Frank, who was practicing medicine there, and from there to Hillsboro and engaged in his profession until May, 1888, when he received word of his brother's illness and at once went to Grafton to care for him. On the 3d of June, 1888, his brother died, and after removing the remains to Ontario, our subject returned to Grafton and opened an office for the practice of his profession. During the first month he made only $20, but since that time his practice has rapidly increased until now he is one of the leading physicians in the city. He is a man of integrity and honor and is highly esteemed, both as a physician and a citizen. . He is actively engaged in his profession and has a good class of patronage.

Dr. Glaspel was united in marriage on the 2d of December, 1885, to Miss Eva Whit- lock, a native of Ontario, Canada, and the daughter of Reverend J. and Mary (Metherill) Whitlock, natives of Prince Edward Island. Mr. and Mrs. Glaspel have been blessed with one child -Muriel. Our subject is actively interested in all matters of a local nature,

and is an adherent to the principles of the republican party. He is the surgeon of the Grafton National Guard, and also examining surgeon for United States pensions.

HARLES G. RAPP, who is engaged in the general merchandising business in the village of St. Hilaire, Polk county, Min- nesota, is a native of the kingdom of Sweden. He was born in Grenna, Sweden, on the 18th day of July, 1856, and is the son of John and Mary (Anderson) Rapp, also natives of that kingdom. The father died in 1863, and the mother re-married. Through life the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Mr. Rapp, the subject of this biographical sketch, remained at home in his native land. until he was eleven years of age, when he commenced in life for himself. During the time he remained at home he attended school, and early in life had instilled into his mind the principles of integrity, industry and fru- gality, which so distinguish the nationality he represents. After leaving home he secured work on a farm, and until 1873 was engaged in farming. In 1873 he emigrated to the United States, and after landing located in Red Wing, Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he remained about eight years, attend- ing school in the winters, and working out among the farmers during the summer. Six months of that time had been spent in Chi- cago, Illinois, where he clerked for Field, Leiter & Co. In December, 1881, heremoved to Polk county, Minnesota, where he took a pre-emption claim, on which he proved up in the spring of 1882. At that time he removed into the village of St. Hilaire, where he secured a position as clerk for Crocker & Cundy, in the general merchandise store. In January, 1884, he opened a general merchan- dise store, on his own account, and at that time was appointed postmaster. He now

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carries a fine stock of goods and is doing a good business. He is asteady and competent business man, and is highly esteemed by all who know him, as a man of the utmost integrity.

Mr. Rapp was married in Spring Garden, Goodhue county, Minnesota, on the 31st day of December, 1885, to Miss Jennie Holmes, the daughter of Gustaf and Anna (Felt) Holmes, natives of Sweden. Our subject is a republican in his political affiliations, and is a member of the village council.

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R. T. H. BLY. The subject of this biographical article is a resident of the village of Paynesville, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the medical profession, also running a drug store in the village. He is a native of the State of New York, born in Chautauqua county, New York, on the 16th day of July, 1852, and is the son of Henry and Julia (Stoneman) Bly, also natives of New York State. The father died in 1879. The mother passed away in 1878.

Dr. Bly, of whom this article treats, remained on the farm at home, attending school and assisting about the place, until he had attained the age of twenty-one years, when he entered the medical department of the college at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended one year, then going to Boston, where he attended the Medical University and graduated with high honors. In 1876 he went to Charleston, West Virginia, where he remained for four years. He then returned to New York State, and from there removed westward, settling in Grove city, Minnesota, and after remaining a short time removed to Paynesville village, where he remained two years engaged in his profession. At the expiration of that time, he went to St. Cloud, Minnesota, and engaged in the drug business, remaining there two years. He

then returned to Paynesville, where he has since remained. He established his present drug store, which he runs in addition to his medical work. He has a large and rapidly increasing practice and is doing a good drug business. He is one of the most successful physicians in the village and is well and favorably known throughout the county. He carries a full line of druggists' goods and is doing as heavy a business as any in the village.

Dr. Bly was united in marriage on the 18th day of August, 1880, and this union has been blessed with one child-Royal. Our subject is actively interested in all local matters. He is one of the prominent profes- sional men of the village and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

ON. JOHN C. BENNEWITZ. Promi- nent among the business men of Mar- shall county, Minnesota, is the gentleman whose names heads this biographical memoir, a resident of the village of Argyle, where he is engaged in the lumber business. He is a native of Germany, born in Andisleben Erfurt, Prussia, on the 3d day of June, 1826, and is the son of William Henry and Eliza- beth (Kieger) Bennewitz, natives also of that kingdom.

Mr. Bennewitz remained at home, assisting his father on the farm until he was twenty years old, and attending school until he was fourteen years old. In 1847 he was con- scripted in the Prussian army, and after the service of one year was promoted to a corporal. His pay was 72 cents and 1} pounds of coarse bread per day. ,He received 41 cents cash and 34 cents in warm soup, three dinners per week without meat, and meat the other four meals. He fought against General Sigel during the Civil War in Baden, Germany. Sigel was a general in

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our late Civil War. Mr. Bennewitz was engaged in several battles about Heidelberg and Rastadt. The latter fortress he besieged for over three weeks. In one of these engagements he received a canister-shot in his knapsack. He turned at the moment and escaped without injury. He still retains the piece of knapsack as a keepsake, as it shows the hole made by the ball. Mr. Bennewitz now has a medal of honor, which was presented to him by the Grand Duke of Baden. In 1852 our subject emigrated to the United States and first settled in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres, and for five years remained there engaged in a general farming and stock-raising busi- ness. In 1853, in casting his first vote, he was elected constable in the town of Ottawa, Wisconsin. In 1857 he sold out and removed to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he followed agricultural pursuits from 1857 to 1872. In 1872 he sold his farm of 280 acres for $30 an acre, and in that year was elected to the State legislature, and from 1870 to 1876 was county commissioner. In 1873 he took a trip to his native land, where he again visited the scenes of his childhood. In 1874 he returned to the United States and for five months taught school in Frontenac, Minnesota. In 1876 he removed to Red Wing, Minnesota, and for five years was engaged in the wheat business. In 1881 he moved to Marshall county and settled in Ar- gyle, where he engaged in the machinery business for a period of two years ; also be- ing one of the first grain dealers. In 1883 he opened his present lumber yard, which he has operated since that time. He handles all grades of lumber, sashes, doors, shingles, laths, etc. He is the owner of 560 acres of land near Argyle, which he has rented.

Mr. Bennewitz was married in Wisconsin on the 20th day of March, 1853, to Mrs. Mary (Huegelman) Menzel, the widow of Conrad Menzel and the daughter of Zach-

arias and Mary (Palterman) Huegelman. By her first marriage Mrs. Bennewitz had five children-Reinhold, Carl, William, Amelia and Loisa. Mr. and Mrs. Bennewitz have been blessed with two children, named Theodore and Henry. Theodore married Miss Estella Bayrell and lives in Argyle, where he is engaged in the hardware and machinery business. Henry married Miss Louisa Startz and lives in Warren, Minnesota, where he runs a harness shop and is doing a good business. Mrs. Bennewitz died in Argyle, Minnesota, on the 2d day of August, 1887, and was interred in the Red Wing Lutheran Cemetery.

Our subject held the office of president of the village council for three years. In polit- ical matters he affiliates with the democratic party. He is a man of the strictest integrity and honor, and is actively interested in all local movements. Mr. Bennewitz in 1862 received a commission as captain in the Tenth Regiment, State militia, and in fact has held many other offices of trust and honor, to which not every foreign born citi- zen has the honor of being chosen to fill.

LE THARALDSON, who is engaged in the general merchandising business in the village of Fertile, Polk county, Min- nesota, is a native of the State of Iowa. He was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, on the 7th day of March, 1867, and is the son of Tharald Gunderson and Bergit Ryssestad, natives of Norway. The father and motlier of our subject emigrated to the United States in 1861. They settled in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where they remained until 1867, when they moved to Minnesota and settled in Pope county, where they have since remained. They are the parents of the following-named children - Osmund, Hal- vor, Ole, Evind, Ole (deceased), Jorand and Anna.

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Mr. Tharaldson, the subject of this bio- graphical article, removed at the age of three weeks, with his parents, to Pope county, Minnesota, where our subject attended school until he was sixteen years of age. He then attended the Willmar high school for two terms, and in 1883 went to Grand Forks, Dakota Territory. There he secured a position in the county treasurer's office, where he worked for two years and a half. In 1887 he and his brother Osmund paid a visit to Norway, and, after remaining in that kingdom from April until August, they returned to Minnesota. They went to their home in Pope county, Minne- sota, and after remaining with their father a short time removed to Polk county Minne- sota. Our subject opened a general merchan- dise store, in partnership with O. S. Kleven, in the village of Fertile. They are still engaged in the same business, and have an extensive trade. They carry a full line of goods and have a lucrative business. They are prominent merchants in the village, and are highly esteemed for their straightforward business methods.

Mr. Tharaldson was united in marriage on the 11th day of September, 1887, to Miss Ingebor Gundeiksdatter Boe, a native of Nor- way. Her mother is still living, but her father died in the old country. The subject of this sketch is a republican in politics, and takes an active interest in all local matters. He is highly esteemed by all who know him, and is a pleasant, genial gentleman.

ENRY MASON WHEELER, M. D., the county superintendent of the board of health of Grand Forks county, North Dakota, will form the subject of this sketch. He is a resident of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he is engaged in an extensive and successful medical practice, in

partnership with Dr. Logan, whose biograph- ical memior will be found in another depart- ment of this ALBUM. The Doctor is a native of the State of New Hampshire, born in North Newport, on the 23d of June, 1854, and is the son of Mason and Hulda W. Wheeler, natives of Vermont and New Hamshire, respectively.

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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 68

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