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 81

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 81
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 81

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subject were the parents of thirteen children, our subject being the oldest.

Judge Roosman, the subject of this article, remained with his parents, working in his father's mill and attending school until he was twenty one years old. He then learned the millwright's trade, and followed that industry for thirteen years. In 1853 he removed to Wisconsin, where he remained three years, and early in 1857 removed to Min- nesota, locating in Glencoe, McLeod county, Minnesota, where he remained until 1862. He participated in the Indian outbreak, serving in the home guards. He sent his family to Indiana, and enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana Infantry, and served seven months as a private, but on account of poor health received an honorable discharge. He then returned to Glencoe, and in 1870 removed to Detroit, Becker county, Minnesota, where he was the first settler. He took a Government claim of 160 acres, and has since platted almost all of it. He improved forty acres of the land and erected a fine residence. He assisted in the building of many of the edifices in the, vil- lage, and has held the office of justice of the peace since 1871. He held the office of deputy register of deeds for two years, and is now a member of the board of education. He has been road overseer, assessor, and has always taken an active interest in all local matters.

Judge Roosman was married at Glencoe, Minnesota, in 1858, to Miss Mary Jane Mc- Clelland, of Glencoe. This union has been blessed with four children-Frank, Charlotte, Ida B. and Helen A. The last named, Helen A., was the first white child born in Detroit, Minnesota. Our subject is an adherent to the principles of the democratic party, and is one of the prominent and representative citizens of the village. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.

DWIN H. LOVE is the editor and pro- prietor of the weekly newspaper called the Kittson County Enterprise, the leading weekly published in Kittson county, Minnesota.

Mr. Love was born in Wyoming, Iowa county, Wisconsin, December 28, 1856. His parents were Samuel M. and Eliza N. (Nick- erson) Love, the former a native of Scotland, and the latter a native of New York. The parents were well-to-do farmers in Wisconsin, and in 1877 his father was elected as super- intendent of the American Sunday-School Union of that State, and continued in that work until the time of his death, April 26, 1882. The widow survives him, and remains at the old home in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Edwin H. remained on the home farm until he was fourteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the printing trade in Baraboo, Wisconsin. For two years he followed this business steadily, and then, feel- ing his need of a thorough education, con- cluded to take a course at the State Univer- sity. This determination was faithfully carried out, although in the face of many difficulties. . For two and a half years he pursued his course, doing light work, sawing wood and the like to pay his way through. He then went to Chicago, and worked at his old trade for six months in the employ of Beach, Barnard & Co., after which he again went to the university, from which he grad- uated with honor in 1875. Returning to Chicago, he entered the employ of the Chicago Tribune as shorthand reporter. He continued with the Tribune for three years, during which time he attended the Centennial Exposition in the interest of his employers. He then became their traveling correspondent, and spent one year roaming in and ivriting about California. Entering the employ of the St. Paul Globe, he then traveled extensively through the West on a reporting tour. He

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has continued in their employ ever since on a salary. He has, however, given somewhat of his attention to other business, and, in August, 1882, founded the Perham Bulle- tin, at Perham, Otter Tail county, Minne- sota. He continued proprietor of this paper until the spring of 1886, when he sold out, and, with his invalid wife, started for Ten- nessee. The wife, however, was taken fatally sick on the way, and died at Emmets- burg, Iowa, May 23, 1886. Mr. Love then started back to Minnesota with his little orphan boy, and hearing that the Enter- prise office at Hallock was for sale, he extended his trip to that place and purchased the paper. He has resided here ever since, conducting the business of the Enterprise.

Mr. Love was married in Algona, Iowa, June 29, 1879, to Miss May D. Sterner, daughter of J. D. Sterner. By this union there were two children-Frank Garfield and Nina. The latter died in the winter of 1885-86. Mrs. Love died May 26, 1886, in Emmets- burg, Iowa, six years after her marriage. Mr. Love's second marriage occurred June 5, 1888, when he was wedded to Miss Anna C. Thompson, daughter of George and Anna C. (Gibbs) Thompson. Her father is one of the leading merchants of the town of Hallock.

Mr. Love is an able journalist, and has brought to his business in Hallock an extended and valuable experience in news- paper work, having for some years been con- nected reportorially with the best journal in

America. Added to this experience is a thorough intellectual training and a love for his profession. Combining these qualities in the editorial management of the Enterprise, it is no wonder that it has become the lead- ing newspaper in Northern Minnesota. The paper is independent in politics and has about eleven hundred subscribers, being also the legal paper of Kittson county, which dis- tinction it has enjoyed for six years past. In 1886 Mr. Love was nominated as representa-

tive in the legislature, and in the election ran 700 votes ahead of his ticket. On account of sickness in the family he was forced to refuse to accept this honorable position. Mr. Love is a member of the A. F. & A. M., of Allison, Iowa, and of the I. O. O. F., of Freeport, Illlinois. Besides his news- paper business, Mr. Love has been turning his attention somewhat to raising blooded horses, and has some excellent thoroughbred stock.

USAW LALONE, the present efficient proprietor of the Central House, in the village of Verndale, Wadena county, Minnesota, is one of the old pioneers of the county, having located there in 1879.

Mr. Lalone received his education in his native country, where he attended school until he was twenty years of age. At that period in life he commenced for himself, and for a few years was engaged in the lumber- ing business. In the summer of 1865 he moved to Hamilton, Ohio, where he took a contract to put up a lot of cordwood. He remained for a year or two, and, in 1867, went to the State of Missouri, where he worked for two years in the brick-manufact- uring business, in Hannibal. In 1868 he removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in the fall of 1870 removed to Chickasaw county, Iowa, and engaged in farming.

In 1879 he started overland for Wadena county, Minnesota, and, on the 17th of November, settled in Verndale. He at once opened a retail liquor establishment, which he operated until 1884. He then went to Aldrich, Minnesota, purchased the hotel, and, after running it for one year, sold out and returned to Verndale, where he purchased his present hotel, then known as the Verndale House. After operating the house for one year he rented the building and engaged in the liquor business with his brother. In the

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spring of 1888 he remodeled the hotel, and has since continued in business. He is a popu- lar citizen and landlord, and bears the respect of all who know him. His hotel is in good running order, and has the general patronage of the traveling public.

Mr. Lalone was married on the 28th of Sep- tember, 1868, to Miss Emily Houle, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Lalone have been blessed with the following-named children - Mary (now deceased), Margret, Frank, George, Racheal, Myrtie, Roy and Tracy.

Mr. Lalone is a man of the utmost integrity and honor, and is an exemplary citizen.

ANASSES SARFF, the subject of this biographical memoir is a resi- dent of section 13, Wykeham township, Todd county, Minnesota, where he is en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in York county on the 16th day of October, 1832, and is the son of John and Saloma (Hoke) Sarff, natives also of Pennsylvania. The father and mother removed to the State of Ohio in the year 1834, thence to the State of Indiana in 1838. They both passed away in 1868. The father was a farmer through life, but followed weaving to some extent in Pennsylvania. The father and mother were the parents of the following- named children - Isaac, Jonas, Catharine, John, Jacob, Seth, Manasses, Peter, Josuah, Joseph and William. Seth and Peter are deceased.

Mr. Sarff, of whom this article treats, remained in his native State until he was six years old, when he removed with his parents to the State of Indiana, where he settled in Randolph county. He remained there until he had attained the age of twenty-six years, during which time he attended the common schools of that region. He also engaged in

farming after he had attained his major- ity. At the age mentioned (twenty-six) lie went to Adams county, Indiana, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for ten years. In 1870 he started for Todd county, Minnesota, and on the 8th of June homesteaded a tract of land in what is now Ward township on section 29. He remained on his farm for ten years and then removed to Wykeham township, in the same county, and settled on section 13, where he has since resided, engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He has a well-cultivated tract of land comprising eighty acres.

Mr. Sarff was married October 16, 1853, in Indiana,to Miss Sarahı Shelly, and this union has been blessed with the following-named children-Jacob F., Saloma M., John W., William J., Joseph H., Mary A., Eliza L., Peter M., Lucinda F., Arthur K., Manasses E., Christian E. and Ervin L. Joseph, William, Eliza, Peter and Lucinda are married; Saloma M. and Arthur K. are dead. The rest are single and at home. Mr. Sarff and his family belong to the United Brethren church. Since 1876 he has been collecting agent for the Minnesota Mercantile Agency.

He has held the office of county commis- sioner since 1886. He is a democrat in poli- tics and takes an active interest in all local matters. He has held various offices, includ- ing town clerk, county commissioner, school clerk, justice of the peace, assessor, etc. He is a representative citizen of the town in which he lives, and bears the esteem of all who know him.

EORGE C. WINCHESTER, the sub- ject of this biographical memoir, is engaged in the general merchandising busi- ness in the village of Warren, Marshall county, Minnesota. . He is a native of New York State, born in Madrid, St. Lawrence

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county, New York, on the 31st day of Janu- ary, 1851, and is the son of William and Jane (Kesey) Winchester, also natives of the Empire State. The parents of our sub- ject removed to Wisconsin in 1855. They had a family of three children, named as follows-Justin W. Winchester, G. C. Win- chester and Katy Jane Winchester. The last-named drowned when four years old, at River Falls. The first is proprietor and owner of the Winchester House at Pembina, North Dakota.

Mr. Winchester, of whom this sketch treats, remained in his native State until he was four years old, when he removed with his parents to Wisconsin and settled at River Falls. There he attended school until he had attained the age of thirteen years, when he secured a position in a drug store re- maining as clerk for three years. He then secured a position in a general merchandis- ing establishment, and for the next nine years was employed in this store and others. For three years of that time he was in the Junction Mills, as cashier and book-keeper, and in 1878 he went to Polk county, Minne- sota, and took a pre-emption claim, upon which he remained four years. In 1882 he moved to Warren, Marshall county, Minne- sota, and erected a large store building, in which he put a full line of general merchan- dise. He also established a similar store in Angus, in company with Jerry Flint and A. D. Andrews. Mr. Flint retiring in 1886, he took in as a special partner Miss Celista Andrews, the sister of A. D. Andrews, who died in 1884. They have since continued in business and have one of the finest stores in the village.

Mr. Winchester was married in Portland, Maine, on the 6th day of April, 1874, to Miss Mary Andrews, the daughter of Abraham and Lydia Andrews. This union has been blessed with two children, Walter and Mildred-the latter died in infancy. Mrs. Winchester

passed away in May, 1878, in San Rafael, California, where she had gone for her health. Mr. Winchester was married the second time, September 10, 1888, to Miss Annie White, the daughter of Charles S. and Rhocardas White, natives of Vermont. Our subject belongs to the following social organ- izations-A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 150; Pierson Lodge, No. 41, R. A. C .; and No. 20 Commandery, K. T. He is a republican in politics, and an active participant in all local movements.

DVER C. OLSON, is a resident of Will- mar, Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the furniture business, carry- ing a full line of furniture and undertaker's goods. He settled in that county in 1871, working a farm one mile from the village, in Willmar township, where he carried on general farming for one year, then settled in the village and followed house building for nine years, employing from two to eight men. He then engaged. in his present busi- ness, purchasing his present place on the corner of Third street, in 1880. He is a native of the kingdom of Norway, born in 1848, and is the son of Ingebrit and Sarah (Jacobson) Olson, natives also of that king- dom. The father was a prominent farmer, and remained in his native land until his death in 1883. The mother is still living in Norway. They were the parents of but one child, Iver, our subject.

Mr. Olson, the subject of this article, remained on the home farm, in his native land, attending school until he was fourteen years old. At that period in life he entered an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a number of years. In 1871 he emigrated to the United States, and, after landing, removed at once to Minne- sota, settling in Kandiyohi county, where he worked on a farm as before stated. He has

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built a number of houses in the village, including his fine residence, which is located on the corner of First street and Litchfield avenue.

Mr. Olson was united in marriage in 1871, to Miss Annetta T. Berg, the daughter of John T. Berg. This union has blessed Mr. and Mrs. Olson with four children, named as follows-Samuel, Ole, Conrad and Inga. Our subject and his family belong to the Lutheran church. He is a stanch repub- lican in his political affiliations, and all local matters, whereby the town or county may derive benefit, receive his hearty support. He is a public-spirited citizen, and is one of the prominent representative business men of the city.

AMES P. WALLACE, cashier and man- ager of the Bank of Pelican Rapids, Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is one of the prominent business men of the Pelican Valley. He is a native of the State of Michigan, born in Washtenaw county, on the 6th day of January, 1844, and is the son of Daniel and Laura (Ripley) Wallace, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. His parents removed to Michigan in the year 1830, and settled in Washtenaw county, where James was born. His father died there October 20, 1875, and his mother is still living there. His father was a miller and con- tractor, and was one of the representative men of Washtenaw county.

Mr. Wallace, the subject of this biography, remained at home, attending school until his fifteenth year, when he entered the Detroit Commercial College, and after completing a course of study at that institution he removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he remained three years employed as book-keeper for a large general store. In 1862 he went to Detroit, Michigan, as book-keeper in a bank, remaining for two years, and then for four

years with Willard, Parker & Co., provision dealers and packers. Then he removed to Chicago, Illinois, and for the two succeeding years was cashier of a leading wholesale hat and fur house. At this time the Union Trust Company Bank, of Chicago, was organized, and Mr. Wallace entered that institution as book-keeper and teller, remaining five years, when he returned to the wholesale house above referred to as credit and general office manager, where he remained until 1882, when he removed to Pelican Rapids, Min- nesota, bringing with him letters and testi- monials of the highest character from Chi- cago bankers and wholesale dealers, and established the Bank of Pelican Rapids, of which he is cashier and manager. He is president of the village council, having held that position for three years. He is a man of marked executive ability, and one of the representative and prominent men of the village and county, who takes an active interest in everything which will help to further the best interests of liis adopted home and county. He is a man of integrity and honor, and his word is considered as good as a bond.

Mr. Wallace was united in marriage Jan- wary 30, 1869, to Miss Jennie Scott, and they have been blessed with one child-Ray A.

Politically, our subject has always been a democrat, a firm believer in the principles of equal and exact justice to all men, of what- soever state or persuasion, religious or polit- ical, and absolute acquiescence in the decis- ions of the majority.

ONALD McDONALD, a resident of Verndale, Wadena county, Minnesota, has been intimately identified and connected with the growth of that region since the first sign of civilization. He first went to that locality in June, 1870, as the general superin-

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tendent of track department and rail-laving of the Northern Pacific Railroad from Duluth to Fargo. He reached the Crow Wing river with the track about April 1, 1871, and from that time until August was engaged in surfacing the track and getting it in better running condition between Duluth and Brainerd. About the last of August he again began track-laving, and they reached Fargo Christmas eve, 1871. At that time there were but few settlers along the line, but once in a while they would see a settler or a trapper in a log shanty or tent. At Brainerd the only house was the chief engineer's headquarters. At Gull river there was an Indian agency, and near where Motley is now located there was one settler named Jake Wilber, better known in later years as "Lying Jake." Near the present site of Detroit there were two small log houses, and from there to Fargo there was nothing save a barren waste of prairie. It was the home of the trapper, and the country was full of Indians and wild game. All of that region is now well settled. Cities and villages have sprung up as if by magic, and schools, churches, well improved farms, with comfortable and often elegant dwell- ings dot the prairie. Such is the con- trast.

As soon as the track was finished our subject was appointed road master, and held this position for six years. In 1878 he went South, and was road master on a branch of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, and remained four years. In 1882 he accepted an engagement with the Canadian Pacific Railroad along the north shore of Lake Superior. In 1885 he came to Verndale, and has since lived more of a re- tired life. He has extensive property inter- ests in lands along the Northern Pacific Rail- road. and owns a fine farm of 300 acres within a mile and a half of Verndale, besides a com- fortable home in the village.

Mr. McDonald was born in Scotland in 1833. He was reared and educated in the land of his birth, receiving the training in integrity and industry which are so charac- teristic of that race. When he was about sixteen years of age he engaged at railroad work, and followed it in his native land for four years. At the expiration of that time, when twenty years old, he came to America. and followed railroading until locating at Verndale as mentioned above. Mr. McDon- ald is a thorough Scotchman, genial, affable. hospitable and unassuming, and he stands high in the community in which he lives, both as a neighbor and an exemplary citizen.

ILLIAM C. PETERSON is a well- to-do farmer on section 32, of Deer- horn township, Wilkin county, Minnesota. He owns 160 acres of good land, about fifty acres of which is under cultivation, the remainder being pasture and meadow. He is one of the oldest settlers of the town, locat- ing here in 1881.

Mr. Peterson was born in Holstein, in Northern Germany, on the 23d day of Sep- tember, 1847. He is a son of Henry J. Peter- son, who was a ship carpenter in his native land. The family emigrated to America in the fall of 1853. They came direct to Daven- port, Iowa, where they remained until the following spring. Then they moved to Le Claire, Scott county, Iowa. Here they remained until the close of the war. The father worked at house-building and shop-carpen- tering. The parents had a family of four boys and two girls - John P., Fred, Henry. Christine, Mary and William.

Our subject secured a common school educa- tion in the common schools of Iowa. He remained at home until 1863, when fifteen years of age, doing whatever he found to do. He worked for some time in a machine shop in

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Le Claire, Iowa. On March 7, 1863, Mr. Pe- terson entered and joined the Sixth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. Heserved under General Cook and also under General Sulley in Sulley's expedition against the Indians. He went up the Missouri river, through Dakota, the Bad Lands, into Montana, going west as far as the mouth of the Powder river. The expedition established forts at different points. Mr. Peterson was in the battle of White Stone Hill, in 1863, which was fought with the Indians about twenty miles west of James river. He was also in the battle of Takkahokuty. He returned with the expedi- tion, and was honorably discharged on November 1, 1865, at Davenport Iowa. On · being discharged he returned home and worked in the shops till the following spring. In the spring of 1866 he came to Winona, Minnesota, where he engaged in railroad work; this he followed about twelve years. Then he built a steamboat, which he ran on the Minnesota river for two years. Having leased his boat he found employment in the mills of Archibald & Shermire. Here he remained about three years. He was the engineer in the old mill that blew up and burned in 1881. He lost all his tools as well as his position by this acci- dent. In 1881 our subject came to Wilkin county, where he took the above-described claim as a soldier's homestead. He has remained here since, and carries on general farming and stock-raising. He lias a com- fortable house and good barns. He also does blacksmith work and runs a steam thresher.

Mr. Peterson was married in 1872 to Miss Julia A. Kluge, of Winona. They have a family of two children, named Florence E. and Walter. They are both at home. In political matters Mr. Peterson affiliates with the republican party, and is a member of the E. M. Kenfield Post, No. 145, of Barnesville, Minnesota.

LLEF N. JELLUM, a prominent and representative citizen of Becker county. Minnesota, is a resident of the village of Lake Park, where he is engaged in the wheat business for the Northern Pacific Elevator Company. He is a native of Nor- way, born on the 26th day of April, 1844, and is the son of Stengrin and Gunild (Sev- ertson) Jellum, also natives of that kingdom. The father was a farmer in the Old World, and emigrated to the United States in 1851, settling in Rock county, Wisconsin, where he remained about four years. In 1855 he went to Minnesota, and settled in Freeborn county, where he followed farming until 1869. At that time he went to Becker county, Minnesota, where he has since remained. The mother of our subject died in 1849, and the father was married to his second wife. The first marriage was blessed by one child, Ellef Nilson, the subject of this article.

Mr. Jellum, the subject of this biograph- ical review, remained in his native country until he was seven years of age, when he emigrated to America with his father, in 1851. After a voyage of seven weeks on a sailing vessel, they landed at Quebec, Canada, and from there went direct to Rock county, Wisconsin. There our subject attended the excellent common schools of that locality for four years, and in 1855 removed with his parents to Freeborn county, Minnesota. Until 1859 the subject of this sketch remained in that county, during which time he com- pleted his education and assisted on the home farm. In 1859 he went to Iowa and visited his half brother, Ole. with whom he remained for about two years. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Sixteenth United States Infantry, Company A, as a private soldier, and served two terms of three years each. During the greater part of the time he was in General Thomas' corps, and was in many battles and skirmishes, including the fol-

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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 81

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