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 75

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 75
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 75

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Ryerson family have invented a num - ber of useful patents. Our subject, Mr. Ryerson invented an adjustable stove leg, which was patented in Canada and in the United States July 3, 1878. The father, John R. Ryerson, invented the metallic book heel and sold his patent for $12,000.

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OHN COSTAIN, who is engaged.in the general merchandising business in the village of Hawley, is one of the oldest set- tlers in Clay county, Minnesota, having located there in 1873 and opened a general store in partnership with Mr. Pryor. He sold his interest to Mr. Pryor, his partner, in March, 1880, and formed a partnership in the following September with his present partner, Walter Tamer, the firm name being W. Tamer & Co. The subject of this sketch is a native of the Isle of Man, born on the 2d day of March, 1845, and is the son of John and Jane (Clague) Costain, also natives of the Isle of Man. The father was a sailor through life, and is still residing on his native island. The father and mother of our sub- ject were the parents of the following-named children-Richard, John, Edward, Elizabeth, Thomas and Jane.

John Costain, the subject of this biograph- ical review, received his education on the Isle of Man, where he attended school until he had attained the age of twenty-four years. At that period in life he emigrated to the United States, and after landing in Boston, Massachusetts, went to San Francisco, Cal- ifornia, where he remained eighteen months, working at various occupations. At the expiration of that time he removed to · Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he worked on the Washburn " A" Mill as mason. He then went to Dakota county, Minnesota, where he worked for two years as a stone mason on various mills throughout that county. After leaving there he returned to Minneapolis, where he remained one year employed as a mason, and then in 1873 removed to the village of Hawley, Clay county, Minnesota, where he has since remained. As stated above, he entered the general merchandising business in partnership with Mr. Pryor, and afterward engaged with his present partner, Mr. Tamer. They have since carried on an extensive business, and

are now the leading general merchants in the village. They carry a full line of goods, and are doing a heavy business.

Our subject has done more to promote the general welfare and interests of the village and county than, perhaps, any other one man. He has held many of the responsible positions in the county and village, includ- ing county commissioner, county auditor, recorder, justice of the peace and clerk. He is one of the leading and prominent citizens, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

Mr. Costain was married September 28, 1873, to Miss Eliza J. Pryor, and this union has been blessed with three children - Arthur, Elbert and Wilfred. Our subject is a republican in his political affiliations. He and his family belong to the Congrega- tional church, of which he is treasurer, and also superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, of which he is one of the officers, in Hawley. He is actively inter- ested in all local matters, and any home enterprise receives his hearty support.

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ANS MICKLESON, who is the mana- ger of the Pelican Rapids Roller Mills, and is also engaged in the hardware business in the village of Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a native of Norway. He was born on the 3d day of April, 1854, and is the son of Mickle and Mary (Anderson) Mickleson, also natives of that kingdom. They removed to America in 1868, and first located in Wisconsin, where they engaged in farming. In 1871 they re- moved to Clitherall, Otter Tail county, Min- nesota, where they took a homestead and are now residing.

Mr. Mickleson, the subject of this sketch, remained in his native land until he had

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attained the age of fourteen years, during which time, he attended school and assisted on the home farm. In 1868 he emigrated to the United States with his parents, and after landing, removed to Wisconsin, settling in St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where our subject remained at home with his parents, attending school and assisting his father operate the home farm. In 1871 Hans re- inoved with his parents to Minnesota, settling in Clitherall, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he helped his father on the farm for four years. In 1875 he went to Perham, Minnesota, and for three years bought wheat for R. L. Frazee. In 1878 he removed to Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, where he took charge of the mills at that point. The mill was established in 1877 by R. L. Frazee, and had three run of stone with a daily capacity of fifty barrels. In the fall of 1882, the patent rollers were put in and the capacity increased to 250 barrels per day, making it one of the best mills in the Park Regions. Our subject has had charge of the mills since his residence here, and in 1882 he established a hardware store in the village, and in 1887 took in as a part- ner J. V. De Long, who has since remained in business with our subject. He is one of the prominent and esteemed business men of the village and in the hardware line is doing a business of about $10,000 a year. He has held the offices of president of the village council, justice of the peace, town treasurer, etc., and is a prominent factor in all affairs of a local nature.

Mr. Mickleson was united in marriage on the 25th day of December, 1879, to Miss Alice Lackey, and this union has been blessed with three children- Edna, Maud, and Glen, who died in February, 1883. In political matters our subject affiliates with the repub- lican party, and is actively interested in all matters calculated to advance the interests or prosperity of his home.

LBERT ABBOTT, who is engaged in the hardware business in the village of Eagle Bend, Todd county, Minnesota, is one of the prominent and successful mer- chants in that locality. He is a native of Illinois, born in Coles county, on the 27th day of January, 1864, and is the son of Ben- jamin and Mary (Newell) Abbott, natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively. The father and mother of Albert were united in marriage in Illinois, and in 1871 they. removed to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where they engaged in farming until 1877. They then removed to Todd county, Minne- sota, where the father homesteaded land in Bertha township, and engaged in farming for five or six years. He was one of the earliest settlers in the county, and in 1883 settled in the village of Eagle Bend, where he engaged in the mercantile business. His death occurred on the 16th of June, 1888. He was a democrat in politics and one of the leading citizens. The mother died in 1869, and the father was married a second time to a Miss Mary Kraeton, a native of Scotland. In their family there were the following- named children-Edward, Albert, Gilbert, Mary, and Lawrence, who died in infancy.

Mr. Abbott, the subject of this biograph- ical sketch, spent his school-days in Øtter Tail county, Minnesota, where he lived until sixteen years of age. He then removed with his people to Todd county, Minnesota, and attended the schools there for two years.

From his eighteenth year, until he had attained the age of twenty-two, he aided his father on the home farm.

In 1886, in partnership with his brother Edward, he opened a grocery store in the village of Eagle Bend, where they continued in business for two years. Our subject then opened his present hardware store in the village.

He has since been engaged in the business, and now carries a full [line of goods, and is

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having a large trade throughout the entire county.

Mr. Abbott was united in marriage on the 18th day of February, 1888, to Miss Mary Ireland, a native of Massachusetts. She was educated in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where she had moved with her parents in 1870. The subject of this article is an adher- ent to the principles of the democratic party and is actively interested in all movements whereby the town or county may derive benefit.

EV. SVEN GUSTAF SWENSON is the present superintendent of schools of Kittson county, Minnesota. He was born in Hjortsberga, Smaland, Sweden, June 10, 1859.

Mr. Swenson's parents were Magnus and Lisa (Johnson) Swenson, both natives of Sweden. The father was a farmer by occu- pation, and continued in the same business after he came to the United States in 1875. They settled in Sparta township, Kent county, Michigan, where the father and mother are still living.

The subject of our sketch was about six- teen years of age when his parents came to America, and he had had up to this time the best of educational advantages in the common schools of his native land. At nineteen years of age he entered the Augus- tana College and Theological Seminary at Rock Island, Illinois, and graduated in both college and seminary. He graduated from the college in 1884, and from the seminary in 1886. Being thus thoroughly equipped for the preaching of the divine word, he was ordained as a minister of the Swedish Evan- gelical Lutheran Augustana Synod. He then came to Kittson county, Minnesota, and took charge of three congregations-Red River, Saron and Emmaus-continuing in this relation for two and one-half years. In

1887 he organized a church in Hallock, which, with the church at Saron, comprises his whole church work. In November, 1888, Mr. Swenson was elected superintendent of schools of Kittson county, a position he is well prepared to fill. Rev. Mr. Swenson is a power of influence among the people with whom he labors, and his intellectual and theological training make him a powerful defender of the tenets of his religious faith. He is a man of broad and tender sympathies, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

ANS A. LARSON, the present incum- bent of the office of register of deeds of Marshall county, Minnesota, is a resident of the village of Warren, where he is engaged in his official duties. He is a native of Nor- way, born in Eidsvold, on the 27th day of May, 1854, and is the son of Martin and Catharine (Olson) Larson, also natives of the kingdom of Norway. The parents of our subject emigrated to the United States in 1864 and settled in Red Wing, Goodhue county, Minnesota, whence they removed in 1876 to Ellsworth, Pierce county, Wiscon- sin, where they have since remained. They are the parents of the following-named chil- dren-Hans A., Charles L., Christine M., Marie M. and Nicholas A.

Mr. Larson, the subject of this biograph- ical sketch, remained in his native land until he was ten years old. During that time, he attended the common schools of Eidsvold, and in 1864 emigrated to the United States with his parents. After reaching America they located in Red Wing, Goodhue county, Minnesota, where our subject attended school until he was twenty-one. He then commenced in life for himself, and for the next four years he worked out among the neighboring farmers. In 1879 he went to Marshall county, Minnesota, and homesteaded

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160 acres of land on section 24, Big Woods township, where he lived until December 15, 1888. He then removed to the village of Warren, where he has since lived. Previous to this, while he was on the farm, he clerked for three years in a store in Argyle. In November, 1888, he was elected to the office of register of deeds, and commenced his official duties January 7, 1889, and has since filled the position with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned.

Mr. Larson was united in marriage on the 23d day of December, 1884, in Grand Forks, Dakota Territory, to Miss Betsy Swanson, the daughter of Mathias and Agnetta (Han- son) Swanson, residents of the town of Big Woods, and this union has been blessed with the following-named children-Martin M., Alphia C. and Charles S. Our subject is a republican in his political affiliations, and is actively interested in all local matters. He has held the position of town clerk for three years. He is a man of excellent business ability, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

UCAS W. SMITH, one of the oldest set- tlers in Wadena county, Minnesota, is living a retired life in the village of Vern- dale. He is a native of the State of Ver- mont, born in Sutton township, Caledonia county, on the 15th day of September, 1816, and is the son of Jabez H. and Anna Smith, natives of Vermont and Connecticut, respec- tively. In 1825 the parents of our subject removed to New York State, which was then comparatively a new Territory. In 1834 they went to Ohio, where they remained until 1839; then they removed to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where they died. They were the parents of the following-named children - Albertina A., Eugene A. and Marial C. Smith.

Mr. Smith, the subject of this biograph- ical article, remained in his native State, attending school until he was nine years old, when he removed with his parents to St. Lawrence county, New York. There he attended school, and in 1834 went with his parents to Lorain county, Ohio. After remaining at home for three years, he com- menced in life for himself, and in 1857 went to Green Bay, Wisconsin, which at that time was a large Indian trading post. After remaining in the northern part of Wisconsin for a year or two Mr. Smith returned to his home in Ohio, where he remained, assist- ing his father operate the home farm for some time. In 1839 he started, with a team, as a peddler, and was through Ohio and else- where, finally locating in Walworth county, Wisconsin. There he took Government land and engaged in farming until 1852. He then went to the State of Iowa, where he engaged in farming for several years. In 1877 he started from Charles City, Floyd county, Iowa, in company with Washington Young and T. Tinklepaugh, for the Northwest, in search of a location. Reaching Wadena county, Minnesota, they decided to settle, and each took farms in the county. Our subject took a tract of land near the village of Vern- dale, which at that time was not even begun. By the 10th of July, 1877, our subject had sixty acres under cultivation, and after filing upon forty acres more, returned to Iowa. After returning from Iowa he entered his land in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and established a town site, giving it the present name-Verndale. Vern, from the name of his grand-daughter, and dale, from the beautiful location of the village. He erected the first dwelling in the village, and in 1878 engaged in the general merchandise business, in which he continued until 1882. He was appointed postmaster, and held the position for several years. He has since been prominently identified with the history and progress of the town and

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county, and is well known and highly esteemed in that section of the State. He still retains his fine farm on section 19, adjoin- ing the village, although he is not actively engaged in any business.

Mr. Smith was married in 1844 to Miss May Maison, and this union has been blessed with three children. Mr. Smith and his family sympathize with the doctrines of the Universalist church. He is a stanch repub- lican in his political affiliations. He has held the offices of justice of the peace and judge of probate for a number of years. He is a man of the strictest honor and integrity, and is actively interested in all local movements.

GAMES NOLAN is engaged in the general mercantile business in McCauleyville, Wilkin county, Minnesota, and is a member of the firm of Nolan & Stevenson.

Mr. Nolan, our subject, was born in Orange county, New York, on the 8th day of Octo- ber, 1839. He is a son of Joseph and Bar- bara (Stevenson) Nolan. The father was a cabinet-maker, and the family lived near the village of Montgomery. The parents were natives of New York, and they had a family of six children-George H., Catharine, Mary, Harriet, James and Elizabeth.

The education which our subject received in the Montgomery village school was supple- mented by a course of study in Kingston Academy, at Kingston, Pennsylvania. He graduated from that institution in 1858. For the suceeding three years Mr. Nolan peddled tin from a cart in both New York and Pennsylvania. While on a trip selling his wares, April 19, 1861, found him in Mauch Chunk in the latter State. This was just five days after the firing on Fort Sumter. Here he enlisted in Company E, Sixth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Three Months' Volun- teers. He was given a furlough in which to

return his cart to Binghamton, New York. Then he rejoined his company, served the three months and was discharged at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania. He returned to his native State, where, in August, 1862, he re-enlisted in Company G, Sixty-fourth Regi- ment, New York Volunteers, and served till the close of the war. He saw war in all its phases under General Mcclellan in the Peninsular campaign, in the second battle of Bull Run, at Antietam, Gettysburg, Chan- cellorsville, Fredricksburg andthe Wilderness. He was through Grant's campaign to Peters- burg and Appomattox. On the 7th of May, 1865, he was discharged at Washington, District of Columbia. -

Mr. Nolan now spent a little time at home in New York, revisited Washington and from there came to St. Cloud, Minnesota. From this place he assisted in driving a herd of cattle to Fort Abercombie. Returning to St. Cloud, he clerked in the Central House. Then he was employed as messenger for the Northwestern Stage and Express Company between St. Cloud and Crow Wing. Janu- ary 14, 1869, the company put him in charge of the Fort Abercrombie end of the route. He has since been a citizen, and has also been engaged in the hotel business and farming. In 1878 and 1880 Mr. Nolan took land of 143 and 160 acres, respectively under the pre- emption and homestead acts, which he still owns. The land is under a high state of cul- tivation, with good building improvements.

On 1886 Mr. Nolan closed his hotel busi- ness, spent the following winter in California and returned. In the fall of 1887 he, in com- pany with Mr. Stevenson, engaged in the general merchandise business.

Our subject was married in 1867, at St. Cloud, Minnesota, to Miss Jane Stevenson who is a native of Canada. They have no children. Mr. Nolan affiliates with the republican party. He was one of the first county commissioners of Wilkin county, i

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being appointed to the office by Governor Hubbord. He has also been sheriff of the county for one term of two years. He is a member of the Good Templars.

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ILLIAM O. BERGERSON. The sub- ject of this article is a resident of the village of Lake Park, Becker county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the photog- rapher's art. He is a native of the State of Iowa, born in Decorah, Winneshiek county, on the 22d day of December, 1855, and is the son of Jacob and Annie Bergerson, natives of Norway. They emigrated to the United States in 1845, and settled in Decorah, Iowa. The grandfather of our subject was Berger Bergerson, a native of Norway, and a farmer by occupation. He came to America and settled in Decorah, and removed from there to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where he remained twelve years. He then went to Polk county, Minnesota, where he died in 1884. The father of our subject was a miller by occupation, and in 1864 removed from Iowa to Albert Lea, Minnesota, where he engaged in his trade for thirteen years. He now is engaged in farming seven miles north of Albert Lea, and has a fine well-cultivated farm of 200 acres. The father and mother of our subject were the parents of the follow- ing-named children-Bernhart, Sophia, Gus- tena, William, Josephena, Rudolph, Harry, Louisa and Ludwig.

William O. Bergerson, the subject of this article, remained in Decorah, Iowa, until he . was nine years of age, during which time he attended the common schools of that city. At the age of nine years he removed with his parents to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where he attended school until he was six- teen years old. He then went to Albert Lea, ' where he entered the high school, graduating from that institution with high honors, at the

age of twenty years. He then learned the photographer's art, and in 1875 went to Chi- cago, Illinois, where the spent one year per- fecting his trade. He thien returned to Albert Lea, where he engaged at his trade for three years. In 1879 he removed to the village of Lake Park, Becker county, Minne- sota, where he opened the first permanent gallery in the village. He erected a build- ing and has all the modern improvements in apparatus and fixtures. He has a large class of customers and turns out some of the best work to be secured in that part of the State.

Mr. Bergerson was married in 1881 to Miss Nettie Clawson, a native of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and the daughter of Peter and Anna Clawson. Mr. and Mrs. Bergerson have been blessed with two children- Amelia and Jessie. Mr. Bergerson is inde- pendent in political matters, reserving the right to vote for the best man regardless of party lines. He has held the offices of jus- tice of the peace, town clerk, and has been a member of the village council. Mr. Berger- son is a man of the strictest honor and integrity and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He is one of the substantial business men of the village and is actively interested in all local matters.

ETER ALDRIN. The biographical sub- ject of this article is a resident of the village of Kensington, Douglas county, Min- nesota, where he is engaged in the general merchandising business in partnership with Charles Lilyquist, whose biography will be found in another department of this ALBUM. He is a native of Sweden, born on the 19th day of November, 1853, and is the son of Carl and Catharine (Peterson) Aldrin, natives of Sweden.

Mr. Aldrin, of whom this memoir treats, remained in his native country, attending

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school, until he was seventeen years old. In 1870 he and his father emigrated to the United States, and, after landing in New York, proceeded to Minnesota and settled in Minneapolis, in June of that year. Our sub- ject's mother and three sisters emigrated to the United States in 1874. After locating in Minneapolis our subject entered a brick yard, where he worked until the 25th of October, 1870, when he secured work on the railroad, between Stillwater and White Bear. On the 15th of December, 1870, he went to Scott county, Minnesota, and during that winter and the following spring worked for Fred Erickson. He then returned to Minneapolis, in June, and until the following August worked on the St. Louis Railroad. He then secured work in a saw-mill for Pettit, Rob- inson & Co., and after working for them until the fall of 1871, returned to work for his old employer, Fred Erickson, on the Man- itoba line. In March, 1872, Mr. Aldrin returned to his farm in Scott county, where he remained through seeding, then returning to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he went to work again for Pettit, Robinson & Co. On the 15th of November, 1872, he went to Urness, Douglas county, Minnesota, where he remained with his father during the winter, and in the following spring resumed work in Minneapolis with his old employers. After working for them until October 22, 1873, he returned to his father's home in Douglas county, and in the spring returned to Minneapolis and went to work for Morrison Brothers in a saw-mill. In November, 1874, when his mother and sisters emigrated to the United States, he went with them to their father's and hus- band's home, where our subject remained until May, 1875, when he again went to Minneapolis and worked for Morrison Broth- ers until July. On the 20th of that month he returned to take care of his mother and sisters, his father having died April 3, 1875.

He built a house and took charge of the place until 1882. In 1879 he had purchased a farm of eighty acres, on which he moved in the spring of 1882. This farm is in Erdahl township, Grant county, Minnesota. He engaged in farming and general stock- raising, and gradually improved and added to the land. On the 14th of February, 1887, he removed to Kensington, Douglass county, Minnesota, and in the following April engaged in the general merchandising busi- ness, in partnership with Lilyquist Brothers. When they dissolved, our subject and Charles Lilyquist took up the business, which they have since carried on.

Mr. Aldrin was united in marriage to Miss Christie Anderson on the 23d of November, 1879, and this union has been blessed with the following-named children - Carl V., Clara A., Allvilda C. and Alma M. Our subject is a republican in his political affilia- tions, and while in Grant county was on the board of supervisors for two years and chairman of that body for one year. Since coming to Kensington he has been promi- nently and actively interested in all local movements, 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 75

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