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 74

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 74
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 74

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ILLIAM ADELBERT WALLACE, a resident of Warren, Marshall county, Minnesota, is one of the most prom- inent citizens as well as one of the pioneers of the Red River Valley. He has the honor of having broken the first furrow in Marshall

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county, and having helped to organize that county, his name is prominently identified with its official history in many ways.

Mr. Wallace is a son of Daniel and Roxy (Putnam) Wallace, both of whom were natives of Vermont. His mother was a lineal descendant of Gen. Israel Putnam. Daniel Wallace's father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, enlisting when only six- teen, and served all through the hostilities. He died at Adams, Jefferson county, New York, being over ninety-eight years of age. He was a descendant of General William Wallace, of Scotland.

William A. Wallace, whose name heads this article, was born in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, August 25, 1833. He lived at home with his parents and aided in carrying on the farm. When he was seven- teen years old the family removed to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where the father bought a farm. Our subject remained at home there for two years, then for several years he followed various occupations, such as teaming on the Plank road, lumbering, running a notion wagon, working in a saw- mill, etc. In the meantime, however, in June, 1856, he came to Minnesota and took a pre-emption at Rice Lake, Merton township, Steele county. There he made his home for five years, but never worked it as a farm. The first winter he worked at carpentering in Owatonna, which city was then in its infancy. The next summer he com- menced running the Morehouse Water Saw- mill. He also attended school for some time in Owatonna. In 1860 he went to the Big Wolf and Red rivers and worked in the woods and at running logs until July 3, 1861. He then returned and worked at various lines, was in a mill, ran a notion wagon, etc. On the 14th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-first Wisconsin Infan- try, Fond du Lac, and with the command he went to Licking river, Kentucky, where for

three days he was on picket duty. He then went to Louisville, and a short time later to Perryville, where he participated in the bat- tle of Perryville. From this time on he was with the famous " Old Pap Thomas " until after the battle of Atlanta. From Perry- ville he went to Stone river and participated in that sanguinary conflict. He took part in all of the thirteen hard battles in which the Twenty-first Wisconsin was engaged, and in which that gallant regiment became famous. Many skirmishes also fell to their lot and the boys of the Twenty-first saw a great deal of hard fighting and hardship. After the close of hostilities our subject was mustered out at Chattanooga, Tennessee, in July, 1865, and returned to his parents. In the fall of 1865 he came back to Minnesota and settled at Rice Lake, in Dodge county, purchasing for a farm the town site of Rice Lake, where he was married. He remained there until September, 1878, when he re- moved to Marshall county, Minnesota, with his family, having previously been there and taken a homestead of 160 acres on section 26, township 155, range 48, War- rington township. He still owns half a sec- tion, having sold one quarter that he once owned. He has a fine residence in Warren, where he lives. His farm is rented and he is engaged in general lines of business, such as buying wheat, speculating, etc. He has a magnificent farm, with a large grove of his own planting, having brought the trees from Dodge county, Minnesota. He is exten- sively engaged in raising horses, and has also devoted considerable attention to fruit culture, in which he has been very success- ful. He has 100 apple trees and an abun- dance of small fruits, such as currants, straw- berries, etc., and has practically demonstrated the fact that fruit can be raised in. this latitude.

Mr. Wallace was married November 25, 1866, to Miss Mary Naylor, a daughter of

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John and Elizabeth (Rook) Naylor, who were natives of Yorkshire and Nottingham- shire, England, respectively. Mrs. Wallace was born in Lincolnshire, England, in Decem- ber, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are the parents of one son-Edward.

Our subject has taken a prominent part in the growth and development of Marshall county. He was one of the first board of county commissioners, appointed by Governor Pillsbury to organize the county. He was a member of the board that located the county seat at Warren. He served for one year as county treasurer, and filled a number of local offices such as supervisor, etc. He is a man of the strictest integrity and his word is recognized as being as good as a bond. He is a prominent member of the Masonic frater- nity, was one of the charter members of the Warren Lodge, and for three years served as its Worshipful Master.

LOF PARY, one of the leading mer- chants at New York Mills, a thriving village in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and a successful and capable business man, is an old settler in the village where he resides. He settled there July 14, 1881, and opened a general merchandise store, which he still conducts. He also handles lumber, wood, railroad ties, etc. His upright and honor- able methods of carrying on business have won him an extensive trade, and he carries the heaviest stock of goods kept at New York Mills.

Mr. Pary was born in Finland, September 8, 1852, and is a son of Olof and Anna (Greda) Pary. The parents came to the United States in 1872, landing at New York, and from there proceeded to Michigan, where they remained for thirteen years. In 1885 they settled in Otter Tail county, Min- nesota, where they still reside.

Our present subject, Olof Pary, is one of a family of five children, three boys and two girls. He grew to manhood and received his education in the land of his birth, attend- ing school until he was fourteen or fifteen years of age. He then engaged at fishing, which is an occupation greatly followed in Finland, and continued this until he was nineteen years of age. He then came to America, landing at Quebec, Canada, after a voyage of thirteen days. From Canada he went to Michigan, where for seven years he remained, engaged in mining and rail- roading. He then followed railroading in Canada for four years, and at the expiration of that time, in 1881, he came to New York Mills, as has already been stated. Since lie has lived here he has always taken a promi- nent and active part in all matters of a pub- lic nature, and has held various local offices. He has been a member of the village coun- cil since 1882, and has been school treasurer since 1885. He takes an earnest part in all school matters, and at present is school treasurer. In fact, in every move he has shown himself to be one of the leading and representative citizens of the locality in which he lives.

Mr. Pary was married in Michigan in 1877 to Miss Sarah Pippo, a native of Fin- land, who was brought to America in her youth. Mr. and Mrs. Pary are the parents of one son, named John O.

In political matters our subject is a dem- ocrat. The family are members of the Lutheran church.

ETER A. ODELL, sheriff of Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, is a resident of the city of Willmar, where he is engaged in his official duties. He has been a resident of the county since 1867, when he settled in the township of Norway Lake, taking a home-

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stead of eighty acres, and purchasing 160 acres of railroad land, upon which he lived, engaged in general farming and stock-raising. for many years. In 1879 he settled in the city, where lie has since remained. He still owns his farm, which now comprises 240 acres of well-improved farming and timber land. He is a native of the kingdom of Sweden, born in Calmar in 1838, and is the son of Carl and Stena (Hanson) Johnson, also natives of that kingdom. The father, who was a farmer, died in 1854, and the mother passed away in 1882. They were the parents of the following-named chil- dren-Christena, now Mrs. Johnson ; Charles and Peter A. (twins); Headvig, who married Mr. Folstrom; Adolph, Mary, now the wife of Mr. Grenell; and Vandla, who was united in marriage to Mr. Erickson.

Mr. Odell received his education in his native land, and, after leaving the common schools, studied navigation in Malmo, Sweden. After his father's death, our sub- ject went on the sea, as cook, and from that gradually worked up to the position of cap- tain. He followed the sea in all for twelve years, and was a captain on the North Sea for four years, in turn visiting France and Europe, and during this time he never lost a ship, although he encountered some of the worst storms ever chronicled. At one time he lost anchors, sails, small boats, etc., and was obliged to put into port without a pilot. During these perilous times he never prayed once, being a man of the world, and, as he relates, had no faith in the efficacy of prayer at such a time. ' During six years of his sea- faring life, his brother Adolph, who now is a resident of Kansas, was the first mate. In 1864 our subject gave up his sea-faring life and emigrated to the United States, first settling in La Porte, Indiana, where he fur- nished ties for the railroad company, and engaged in farming on a tract of land com- prising forty acres. In 1867 he removed to

Minnesota, and, as before stated, settled in Kandiyohi county. He still owns his farm, which is one of the finest, and comprises 240 acres. In regard to his political and official connections, he has held the office of county commissioner for three years, been town clerk for eight years, justice of peace for eight years, and in 1878 ran on the independent ticket for sheriff and was elected by seventy majority. The second term he was on the regular ticket, and since that time has been re-elected every two years. He is one of the most prominent and public- spirited citizens in the city, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He has also been alderman of the second ward in Willmar.

Mr. Odell was married in 1870 to Miss Carrie Reese, and this union has been blessed with eight children. In political matters, Mr. Odell is an adherent to the principles of the republican party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is one of the substantial and representative men of · tlie county.

ISAAC NEWTON WEAR, M. D., a well- known and successful physician and sur- geon of the city of Fargo, North Dakota. forms the subject of our present article. He was born near Plymouth, Illinois, March 25, 1852, and is a son of Joseph D. and Mary B. (Downs) Wear, who were natives respect- ively of Tennessee and Indiana. Our sub- ject spent his boyhood-days on a farm, and attended the common schools until he was sixteen years of age, when he took a two- years' course at the Plymouth high school. At the expiration of that time he spent one year in the college at McComb,Illinois. When he was eighteen he began teaching school and followed that profession, alternately with at- tending school, until he attained his majority.

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He then took charge of the Plymouth high school, and served as principal of that institution for two years. In 1875 he went to California for his health and remained there five months, then returned to Plymouth, Illi- nois, and resumed the study of medicine, which he had begun several years before. In the fall of 1876 he entered Rush Medical College, of Chicago, from which noted insti- tution he was graduated in February, 1878. He then located at Fandon, Illinois, and began practice, remaining there for four years. At the expiration of that time, on the 1st of March, 1882, he came to Fargo, North Dakota, where he has since been actively engaged in practice. He ranks among the most successful and leading physicians in the Red River Valley, and is one of the most popular practitioners in the city. He is the surgeon for the Northern Pacific and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railways, and is the official physician and surgeon of the Cass County Hospital. He is a member of the Cass County Medical Association, and also of the American Medical Association. A man of the strictest integrity, he is held in high esteem, both professionally and socially. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar, and also belongs to the Odd-Fellows Order.

Dr. Wear was married at Fargo, January 4, 1888, to Miss Lulu Thomas, a daughter of A. D. and Fanny B. (Barns) Thomas. Her father is one of the leading lawyers of Fargo and North Dakota, and her mother is a daughter of Judge A. H. Barns.

ON. WILLIAM E. LEE, who is engaged in the banking business in the famous Park Regions, is a resident of the village of Long Prairie, Todd county, Minnesota. He is a native of Illinois, born in Alton, on the 8th of January, 1852, and is the son of

Samuel and Jane (Green) Lee, natives of Bridgewater, England. The father and mother emigrated to the United States in 1851, and settled in Alton, Illinois. They remained there a number of years and then moved to Little Falls, Minnesota, where they have since resided. The father is a mill- wright, having been in that business through active life. He is. now retired, and is one of the prominent citizens of Little Falls. The father and mother of our subject are the parents of the following-named children- Anna, now Mrs. R. Kirkwood, of Seattle, Washington Territory ; Samuel, a merchant of Long Prairie; Francis, now Mrs. Racine, of Tacoma, Washington Territory; Richard II., located at Little Falls, Minnesota, where he is engaged in farming; George, who is en- gaged in the carpentering business in Little Falls; Isabelle, who married Edward Broder, a blacksmith in Swanville; and Emma, who is the wife of Frank Simmons, editor of the Long Prairie Leader, of Long Prairie.

William E. Lee, the subject of this bio- graphical memoir, received his education in Little Falls, Minnesota, where he removed when he was about five years of age. At the age of sixteen years he left the school- room, and until he was twenty-one learned the carpenter's trade, also working on the farm. In 1873 he secured a position as clerk in a dry goods store at Long Prairie, Todd county, Minnesota, with the firm of Kellogg, Chase & Mayo, with whom he remained one and one-half years. He then started in the general merchandise business for himself in Burnhamville, Todd county, and continued in the business at Burnhamville and Long Prairie eight years, being succeeded by S. C. Lee. In 1876 Mr. Lee was elected register of deeds of the county, removed to the county seat, and served in that capacity for four years. At the expiration of that time he engaged in the banking business, in which he has since con-

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tinued. He is one of the prominent, repre- sentative men of the village and county, and is actively interested in all matters calculated to benefit either town or county.

Mr. Lee was married February 14, 1876, to Miss Eva Gibson, a native of Kingston, Canada, and the daughter of A. H. and Margaret Gibson. The father of Mrs. Lee was one of the earliest settlers of Todd county, and a representative and esteemed citizen. He is now deceased. The mother is still living. She and her husband were the parents of three children-A. J., Eva A. and Beatrice. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have been blessed with the following-named children- Rudolph A., William H. and Arthur R. Mr. Lee is a republican in politics and a member of the Masonic and Odd-Fellows fraternities. From 1885 until 1889 (four years) Mr. Lee was a member of the State legislature. He has held the office of president of the village coun- cil and has been president of the board of trade since 1887. Everything of a public nature calculated to benefit either his town or county receives his hearty support. Enter- prising, aggressive and energetic, and an active worker in political matters, he has won a reputation that extends throughout the State. A man of the strictest integrity, his word is as good as a bond, and he is most highly respected wherever known.

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ERNER HEMSTEAD, M.D., the pres- ent mayor of the city of Brainerd, Crow Wing county, Minnesota, is engaged in a large and increasing medical practice in that city and vicinity. He is a native of Iowa, born in Dubuque county, on the 19th day of April, 1859, and is the son of Charles and Rosamundi (Grobe) Hemstead, natives of the kingdom of Germany. They emigrated to the United States in 1846, and located in Dubuque county, Iowa, where they remained

until 1868, then removing to Nebraska. They were the parents of six children, our subject being the youngest.

The Doctor received his common education in the district schools of his native State, where he attended school until he was sixteen years old, and during the summers of that time assisted on the home farm. In 1868 he removed with his parents to Nebraska, and for four years attended the Mount Pleasant (Iowa) University. He then went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he studied medi- cine for one year ; at the expiration of that time he removed to Omaha, where he studied one year, graduating with high honors. After receiving his diploma he was elected demonstrator of anatomy of the college, and until 1882 remained in that capacity. In September, 1882, he removed to Minnesota, settling at Brainerd, Crow Wing county, and for six years was surgeon of the Northern Pacific Sanitarium. In September, 1888, he resigned his position and at once opened an office for the general practice of his profes- sion. He has since been engaged in clinical work, and is one of the leading physicians and surgeons in the Upper Mississippi Valley. In March, 1888, he was elected mayor of the city, being the first democratic mayor ever elected in that place. He has also been alderman of the fifth ward, being elected in 1885 for a term of two years. He is a pub- lic-spirited citizen and is prominently identi- fied with all local matters. He is a man of the strictest integrity and honor, highly esteemed by all who know him, both in his profession and as an official, as well as an exemplary citizen.

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ENJAMIN C. TAYLOR, the well-known veterinary surgeon of Hillsboro, North Dakota, was born in Nassagaweya township, Halton county, Canada, April 14, 1853, and is a son of Thomas M. and Mary

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(Anderson) Taylor, who are natives of Eng- land and Ireland, respectively.

Until he was seventeen years of age Ben- jamin lived with his parents, attending the district school winters, and working on the farm during the summer months. He then went to Clifford and learned the blacksmith trade. After remaining in one shop for three years he went to Guelph where he worked as journeyman for one year in a carriage factory, then returning to Nassa- gaweya township, where he started a shop for himself and remained in that business two years, then moved to Brockway Centre, Michigan, and worked in a foundry one year. He then went to Smith Creek, Mich- igan, and carried on a general blacksmith and wagon-making business for six years; then rented his place for one year and came to Caledonia, Traill county, Dakota Terri- tory, to look for a location. He staid here six inonths, then returned to Michigan, sold out and went to Toronto, attending a veter- inary college one winter. He then came to Hillsboro in the spring of 1886 and has made his home here ever since, returning to college every winter. He graduated Decem- ber 25, 1887.

Doctor Taylor has a very fine veterinary hospital ; it is 80x46 feet in size and contains all the modern improvements. He and his family occupy the front upper part, which is finished off in good comfortable style. Beside his profession he is a breeder of fine blooded dogs, as the St. Bernard, Newfound- land and imported English Greyhound. He has one pure white hound, a species seldom seen, as they are very rare.

Doctor Taylor was married in Brockway Center, Michigan, November 12, 1879, to Miss Maggie Williams, who was born in Brampton, Canada, July 27, 1859, daughter of Charles and Kate (McIsaac) Williams, who are natives of England and Scotland, respectively.

Doctor Taylor holds the office of county inspector of deceased stock and is consid- ered one of the most successful veterinary surgeons of the Northwest. He is a genial, pleasant gentleman, a man of strict integrity and is highly esteemed both as a business man and an exemplary citizen.

ATHER JOSEPH H. MARCIL, rector of the St. Joseph parish in Red Lake Falls, Polk county, Minnesota, is one of the most powerful pulpit orators to be found in the Catholic society in the Red River Valley. He is a native of Canada, born in the county of Rouville on the 30th day of March, 1853, and is the son of Joseph and Julian (San- rette) Marcil, natives of Lower Canada. The father and mother of our subject were the parents of the following-named children- Arzelie, Amanda, Louis, Dorila, Rose, Albina, Aloysia and Josephine. Arzelie married A. Sanrette and lives in Manitoba. Dorila mar- ried Donat Lambert, of Polk county, Min- nesota. Rose is the wife of Rock Jourdain, of Canada. Albina is now Mrs. Rivard, liv- ing in Dakota. Aloysia was united in mar- riage to Paul Peloquin, of Ontario, Canada. Josephine is now Mrs. Norbert Forest, of Manitoba. Louis is married and livesin Red Lake Falls.

Father Marcil, the subject of this bio- graphical sketch, remained with his parents until he had obtained a collegiate education, classical and theological. In June, 1876, he graduated with high honors from the semi- nary at St. Hyacinthe, county of St. Hya- cinthe, Canada, and from the theological department in August, 1879. He was then ordained as priest, and went to Winnipeg and took charge of the church at that place. Remaining four years and a half he removed to Minnesota. In December, 1884, he located in the village of Red Lake Falls, Polk county,

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Minnesota, where he took charge of the St. Joseph parish. He has since remained there, and is highly esteemed and respected by all who know him. He is a man of wide read- ing and extensive education. He is one of the most powerful pulpit orators in that region and a forcible writer. He is a man of much more than ordinary ability, and is a representative and exemplary citizen. His parents are still living with him, the father now being sixty-six years old and the mother sixty-two.

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ICHARD D. RYERSON, photographer, and engaged in the notion business, handling musical instruments, picture frames, blank books, tablets, albums, scrap-books, fine confectionery, nuts, fruits, toys, etc., in Detroit City, Becker county, Minne- sota, is a native of Maine. He was born in Paris, Maine, on the 22d day of January, 1849, and is the son of John R. and Elmira (Dunham) Ryerson, natives also of Maine. The father was engaged in the boot and shoe business in Maine for many years. He was a member of Company C, Seventeenth Maine Infantry, and was in the service three years, participating in the battles of Fredericks- burg and Chancellorsville. Our subject's father and mother were of Scotch and Ger- man descent. The father and mother were the parents of six children, named in the following order-Richard, Angie, Hattie, Annie, Cora and Myrtia.

Mr. Ryerson, of whom this sketch treats, spent his younger days in Maine, where he attended school until he was sixteen years old. He then entered his father's manufac- tory, where he learned the boot and shoe- maker's trade, working at that avocation for four years. When he was twenty years old he went to Dexter, Maine, and engaged in the boot and shoe business. For twelve succeeding years he was employed at his

trade in various localities in Maine. In 1880 he went to Castean, a summer resort' on the Penobscot Bay, where he learned the artist's trade. He then returned to Dexter, Maine, purchased an outfit and traveled through Maine. In 1881 he purchased a portable photographic outfit, and until 1883 traveled through the different towns in his native State, engaged in his business. In 1883 he moved to the West and located at Detroit City, where he opened a gallery and con- tinued in business until 1886, when he built his present building. In addition to his art he carries a full line of confectioneries and notions, having the finest establishment of the kind in the place.

Mr. Ryerson is a musician of more than ordinary talent and has always taken an active interest in any musical organization in the locality.

He organized the band contest in 1884, in which nine bands participated; the three prizes being won, respectively, by the Brain- erd, Wahpeton and Perham bands. He is now president of the village band, and for a number of months was treasurer of that. organization. He has the reputation of being the best solo drummer in the Northwest and is familiar with almost every instrument known to band men.

In 1877 Mr. Ryerson was married to Adell Lancaster, a native of Maine, and the daughter of Bela and Louisa (Turner) Lancaster, natives of the same State. Our subject is a stanch republican and any home enterprise receives his hearty support. He is a prominent citi- zen and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

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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 74

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