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 85

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 85
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 85

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named children-Mary S., Alvin H., Charles P., Helen S., Lucy, Zetoles and Hosmer H., all but one of whom are now living.

Mr. Wilcox, the subject of this bio- graphical review, remained at home until he had attained the age of twenty-one years. During that time he attended school and assisted his father operate the home farm. At the age of twenty-one he left home and commenced in life for himself. He went to Newark, Ohio, where he worked in a manu- factory for two years. In the fall of 1857 he was appointed county surveyor of Lick- ing county, Ohio, serving eighteen months. In the spring of 1859 he obtained the posi- tion of mining engineer of Coshocton county, Ohio, and remained there until the war broke out. In 1861 he organized a company for the Twenty-sixth Ohio Regiment, and cnlisted himself. They went to Columbus, but were rejected for having too great a number of men at camp. Our subject then went to Chicago, Illinois, where he joined a company of engineers and bridge builders, but they were disbanded shortly after they arrived. Mr. Wilcox then went to Steamboat Rock, Iowa, and engaged in the profession of a school teacher during the winter of 1861 -62. In the spring of 1862 he went to Dakota Territory, and located on the present site of Elk Point. In one week the river overflowed a few miles above him, drowning two settlers, which so discouraged him that he took the first steamboat going to Fort Benton. He went up the Missouri river to the Rocky mountains and was beyond any white habitation. When he reached Fort Benton he learned of the gold mines which were being discovered in the West and at once became fired with the idea of prospecting. He, in company with about a dozen others, crossed the Rocky mountains to Gold creek,. into Montana, then Washington Territory, where they found seven miners searching for gold. Our subject, with his partner, Patrick

Owens, took the first claims and were among the first ten men who ever mincd in Mon- tana. One of the party was Ex-Governor Samuel Hauser, and another Graville Stew- art, afterward first president of the First National Bank at Helena, and now the president of the Montana Cattle Company. The location of their mining efforts was about ten miles from where the golden spike of the Northern Pacific Railroad was driven twenty-one years afterward. Their efforts proved unavailing, for gold was not found in paying quantities, and when their provi- sions became scarce four of the party, our subject included, started for Walla Walla, which was the nearest settlement they knew of, being 450 miles distant. Their provisions soon gave out, and for three or four days they lived on fish and June-berries. They finally arrived at the Indian agency, Joco, where they recruited for a day or two. Our subject decided to remain and work on the Government farm, and the others resumed their journey. He remained there until the 13th of October, 1862, and then started for the Milk River country on the east side of the Rocky mount- ains, alone, with three horses. His purpose was to trap during the winter. After trav- eling for four days he met an emigrant train, under Captain Fisk, the first party of emigrants who ever crossed the plains from Minnesota, and threc men from this con- pany joined our subject upon his return. While stopping to hunt a few days, near where the city of Helena now stands, a Blackfoot Indian stole onc of the horses, and, although they shot and wounded him and recaptured the horse, the Indian escaped. On arriving at Fort Benton they learned that the Indian had organized a war party to pursue them. On account of the trouble with the Indians they finally decided to give up their hunting and trapping project, and went up in the Rocky mountains, on the

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Prickly Pear river, remaining there all winter. The simple narration of their priva- tions and hardships can not convey to the mind their meaning. They were sixty miles from a human being and 500 miles from a postoffice. Our subject remained in this out-of-the-way place for two years, during which time he was engaged in mining, and claims the honor of opening and operating the first gold mines within one hundred miles of Helena. For one period of five weeks they had nothing but meat to live on, and our subject went sixty miles in the dead of winter to secure a little flour, paying thirty cents a pound for it. During that journey he did not see a single house, and his bed was made with a blanket, with the snow for a mattress. In October, 1863, the few miners held a general election in the camp, and a party came one hundred miles to inform them that it was election day. While on the way an Indian stole his horse, but he followed him, shot him, secured his horse, and resumed his journey, but did not arrive until evening, so they voted by candle light, using an old hat for a ballot box. There were twelve votes cast, which included all the voters east of the Rocky mountains, one hundred' miles from where Helena now stands, and it was the first election ever held in Montana. On the 15th of August, 1864, Mr. Wilcox started back for Ohio, going by way of Salt Lake City, 500 miles in a mule wagon, and thence to Denver, a distance of 600 miles, in a stage in six days and six nights. Mr. Wilcox says that that stage trip was the most severe journey he ever made. On arriving at Denver all travel to the States was sus- pended on account of Indian hostilities. After remaining three weeks in Denver he went to Omaha with a train of returning ininers. Just before they arrived in Omaha they passed the first graders at work on the Union Pacific Railroad, a gang of fifty squaws. This was in October, 1864. Our

subject then went across Iowa in a stage, and thence to Ohio, and in the following spring went to Pennsylvania, on account of the oil excitement. There he followed land surveying for six months, and then obtained the position of first assistant engineer for the Oil Creek Railroad Company, work- ing in that capacity for six months, until the completion of the road. He then specu- lated in the oil territory, and was unfor- tunate in losing all he had. He then worked on the Alleghany river and in the pine woods for eighteen months. In the spring of 1868 he went down that river and the Ohio on a raft of lumber, on his way back to the West. He secured a position as civil - engineer on a branch of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad, and remained until the road was completed. From Chicago he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and obtained the position of deputy city engineer, working as such for six months. The climate not agreeing with him, in August, 1869, he removed to Minnesota, and in September landed in St. Paul with only $4 in his pocket. From there he went to Still- water, and for some time worked in a saw- mill, then engaging in the profession of school-teaching. In the next August he came to the Red River Valley as United States surveyor, and during that summer and the succeeding fall and winter surveyed through Becker, Clay and Wilkin counties. Taking a fancy to Becker county he decided to settle there, and has since been promi- nently identified with the official history of the county. He has since been engaged more or less in surveying, and in 1871 home- steaded 160 acres of land in Detroit town- ship, where he settled and commenced to make improvements. In 1871 he was elected county surveyor, and re-elected in 1873. In 1875 he was elected county treasurer, which position he held six years. He then was elected to the county auditor's office, which 1

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he filled five years. For two years he was chief engineer of the Fargo & Southern Rail- road. He purchased 4,000 acres of timber land and has since been engaged in the lumber business. He employs fifteen hands and is doing quite an extensive business. He owned a mill on the Otter Tail river, but in July, 1888, it was destroyed by fire. He has always been actively interested in the local interests of the northern part of the State.

Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage on the 15th day of February, 1859, to Miss Mary E. Hannahs, a native of Ohio and the daugh- ter of Samuel and Rachael (Paign) Hannahs, natives of Licking county, Ohio. Our sub- ject is a republican in his political affiliations and one of the prominent and representative men of the county.

HARLES H. BOND, a prosperous and successful farmer of Todd county, Minnesota, is a resident of section 13, Wyke- ham township, where he is engaged in a general farming and stock-raising business. He is a native of New York State, born in Ashford, Cattaraugus county, New York, on the 29th of July, 1839, and is the son of Sul- livan and Maria (Coffrin) Bond, also natives of the Empire State. The parents came to Minnesota in 1855, and settled in Good- hue county, Minnesota, where the father died in 1876. He was a farmer through life. The mother is still living. They were the parents of the following children-Charles H., John, Sarah, Caroline, Andrew, Orlando, Emigene and Elizabeth.

Mr. Bond, the subject of this biography, received his education in his native State, attending school until he was sixteen years of age. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years old, and during that time helped on the home farm. In 1855 he

removed to Minnesota with his parents, and settled in Goodhue county. He remained there, engaged in farming, until about 1865, when he removed to Faribault county, Min- nesota. After a six-years' sojourn in that locality, engaged in farming, he went to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he remained seven years. In 1881 he moved to Todd county, Minnesota, and located on section 13, Wykeham township, where he has since remained. He was among the first to settle in the township. He helped lay out the town site of Eagle Bend in the spring of 1882. He is extensively engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and has a well- cultivated farm of 120 acres in Wykeham township and 160 acres in Germania town- ship. In connection with his agricultural pursuits he is actively engaged in the real estate business, also the meat market busi- ness.

Mr. Bond was married January 7, 1860, to Miss Minerva Ridgway, and this union has been blessed with five children, named John S., Frank B., Dora E., Lavinia and Harry (deceased). All are married except Frank. Mr. Bond is a republican in his political affiliations. The family belong to the Seven Day Adventist church. Mr. Bond was supervisor in Faribault county for three years. Special mention should be made of his war record. He enlisted in December, 1865, in the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, and received his honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee. He was stationed at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was under Colonel Baxter, and after his discharge returned to Faribault county, Minnesota. He is a representative man of Todd county, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and also of the Odd-Fellows fraternity. He has identified himself with all movements of a local nature, and is a man of the utmost honor and integrity.

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RANK C. FIELD, the present incum- bent of the office of county auditor of Wadena county, Minnesota, is a resident of the village of Wadena, where he is engaged in his official work, also carries on a loan, collection and insurance agency. He is a native of the State of Wisconsin, born in Prescott, on the 26th day of September, 1857, and is the son of Truman and Abbie (Bailey) Field, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire. The father of our subject was engaged in the general merchandising busi- ness in Prescott for a number of years and was prominent in politics in that section. The father and mother of our subject are the parents of the following-named children- Jesse S. Field, an attorney, and Maud C. Field, both residing at Prescott, and our subject.

Mr. Field, of whom this article treats, grew up to manhood in his native State and received his general education in his native town. During his "off " hours from school work he worked in his father's store, and afterward was clerk for two large mer- chandise concerns in Prescott. In 1877 he removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, and entered the commercial college of Bryant and Strat- ton, remaining one year. In 1878 he secured a position in the dry goods store of Aur- bauch, Finch, Culbertson & Co., of St. Paul. After being with them a short time he was employed by them to dispose of old and bankrupt stocks, and remained with them until May, 1879, his last work being in Vern- dale, Minnesota, where he took charge of a bankrupt stock. In February, 1880, he removed to Wadena to assume the official position of auditor, having been elected to that office in 1879. At one time he had charge of the books of the Bank of Good- ner & Co., and in 1883 helped to establish the Dower Lake Lumber Company, and remained in connection with them until 1885. He then formed a partnership with T. F.

Ostrander, in the real estate, insurance and loan business, which continued until February, 1888. Since then our subject has carried on the business alone and is having good success. Ile still holds his official position and dis- charges the duties devolving upon that office with satisfaction to all parties concerned. He is a member of the Wadena Lodge, A. F. & A. M., also of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is one of the representative citizens of the county and is highly esteemed by all who know him. In political matters he affiliates with the republican party.

LON. NELS QUAM, the subject of our present article, is the representative from Kandiyohi county in the lower house of the Minnesota legislature, and is a resi- dent of section 30, Lake Andrew township, Kandiyohi county, Minnesota. He well deserves appropriate mention in a work devoted to the prominent men of Northern Minnesota, as he is one of the leading repub- licans in the county in which he lives, and is highly esteemed both as a man and exemplary citizen. He is a native of Minnesota, but as his parents were born in Norway he springs from the same race which has furnished the Northwest with so many of its most valuable citizens -a race proverbial for integrity, frugality and economy. The parents of our subject were John Nelson and Anna (Thomp- son) Quam, who were married in Norway in 1852. They came to America in 1854, land- ing at Quebec, and proceeding at once to Koskenong, Wisconsin. There they carried on a farm and remained until 1856, when they came to Minnesota, and the father took a pre-emption in Havana township, Steele county, where Nels, our subject, first saw the light. In 1878 the father sold out and removed to Kandiyohi county, Min- nesota, where he purchased a farm in Lake

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Andrew township, where they still reside. The parents had a family of eleven children, only five of whom, however, are now living.

Nels Quam, whose name heads this article, was born February 16, 1859, in Havana, Steele county, Minnesota, as above indicated. He spent his boyhood there, at work on the home farm, and his educational advantages were limited until after he had attained the age of eighteen years. After that period he attended school for two years in Minne- apolis, and extensive reading has ripened his knowledge so that he is a well-read and well-posted man on all public questions. He has since lived on the home farm, and had general charge of the business. He has always taken an active and prominent part in all public matters, and is one of the lead- ing citizens in the locality in which he lives. He has held various local positions, and in 1888 was elected to represent Kandiyohi county in the house of representatives, by a large majority, and is now filling that posi- tion with ability. He was the principal factor in organizing the local Farmer's Insur- ance Company at his home and is president of the same. He is also president of the Farmer's Alliance.

Nels Quam was married on the 12th of October, 1879, to Anna Augusta Mankel, and they are the parents of five children as fol- lows-Andrew, William, Edward, Stella and Oscar. Mrs. Quam was born at Northfield, Minnesota, December 24, 1863.

R. SYLVESTER J. HILL, one of the leading dentists of the Red River Valley, is a resident of Fargo. He is tlie son of Ephraim and Mary M. (Reed) Hill, natives of New York. He was born in Caton, Steuben county, New York, May 3, 1846, where he remained until he was fifteen years old, when he went to the Corning Free

Academy, attending winters and working on the farm at home during summer months. This he continued for two years, when he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-first New York Volunteer Infantry, September 14, 1864, and served until June 26, 1865. His regiment was in several engagements, but at that time our subject was on detached duty, and did not partici- pate. After being honorably discharged he returned home and remained one year, when he resumed his studies and attended school at Bath, New York, for some time, after which he taught one term of school. He afterward went to St. Joseph, Michigan, and ran a stationary engine in a brickyard, and also worked in a saw-mill, and did all kinds of mill work, except head sawyer. After being in this work about two years he then went to Ovid, New York, and attended the seminary there one year, when he went to the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, New York, where he was taken sick. After his recovery he studied medicine for two years at Ovid, and in that time attended two courses of lectures at Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated there from the Homeopathic Hospital College in the spring of 1872. He then went to Waterloo, New York, remaining some six months, when he went to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he practiced for one year and a half; going then to La Mars, Iowa, remaining a short time, when he went to Cherokee, Iowa, where he practiced several years. Dr: Hill came to Fargo, March 25, 1878, and engaged in dentistry, having studied dentistry when in Iowa. He is president of the Territorial board of dental examiners, and secretary of the Northwestern Dental Association, also treasurer of the Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday-school, and an active worker in all moral and educational matters. He has served as president of the board of education of the city of Fargo for two terms. Mr. Hill was married in Geneva,

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New York, February 2, 1872, to Miss Anna Sowles, M. D., daughter of Stephen B. and Lurancy (Reynolds) Sowles, natives of Ver- mont. Mrs. Hill studied medicine in Florence, New Jersey, in Tralls Hygeo-Therapeutic Institute, where she graduated, after which she attended the Homeopathic Hospital Col- lege at Cleveland, Ohio, where she again graduated, and has since graduated at the Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago. Mrs. Hill has only followed her profession at intervals. Their union has been blessed with five children-Alice M., Agnes L., Mary, Edith L. and Ernest S. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the Methodist church. He was lay delegate from the North Dakota annual conference, to the general con- ference at New York City in May, 1888, and is one of the leading members of that society at Fargo. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, past master of the Blue Lodge, and high priest of the Chapter. He is chaplain of John F. Reynolds Post, G. A. R., No. 44., of Fargo, Dakota Territory.

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UCIUS E. STINEHOUR, a prominent merchant of Wadena county, Minne- sota, is engaged in the general merchan- dising business in the village of Wadena. He is a native of Vermont, born in West- ford, on the 12th of July, 1852, and is the son of Mr. J. C. and Mrs. D. A. Stinehour, natives of Vermont. The father and mother of our subject were the parents of the fol- lowing-named children-Lucius E., Homer E. and Jesse B.

Mr. Stinehour, the subject of this bio- graphical article, remained at Westford, Vermont, until three years of age, when his parents moved to Johnson, Vermont. He remained there attending the excellent com- mon schools of that place until he was twenty years of age. He then removed to

Essex Junction, Vermont, where he secured employment in a drug store for about seven years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Minnesota and settled at Wadena, where he has since remained with the excep- tion of a year's trip in the State of Oregon. In 1879 he settled in Wadena and opened the first drug store in the village. In the last two years the subject of this article has gradually been working out of the drug business, and has devoted the greater part of his time to his general merchandise depart- ment. During the first four or five years there was no other store of that class in the village. He is one of the prominent and successful business men in the village and county, and bears the respect and good-will of all who know him. He carries a full line of fancy groceries and dry goods and has a large and increasing trade.

Mr. Stinehour was united in marriage on the 25th of February, 1879, to Miss Kittie Beach, and this union has been blessed with two children-Maud G. and Hugh B. Mrs. Stinehour passed away from the scenes of earth on the 13th of February, 1887, sin- cerely mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Stinehour is interested in all of the move- ments of the republican party and is an act- ive participant in all movements of a local nature.

ANS J. DALE, of the firm of Dale & Roise, leading merchants, of Willmar, Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, settled in that place in 1874, and commenced business, hand- ling drugs, groceries, dry goods, clothing, carpets, boots, shoes, hats, caps, etc., in part- nership with Paul H. Roise, whose biography will be found in another department of this ALBUM. Mr. Dale was born in Norway, on the 16th of November, 1849, and is the son of Jorgen and Martha (Larson) Dale, also natives of that kingdom. The mother died

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in 1853, and the father, who was a farmer, emigrated to the United States in 1860, and settled in Vernon county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming, owning a fine tract comprising 360 acres of land. Later he sold this farm to his son Peter J., and is now owner of the well-known Willmar Farm, two miles northeast of the city, comprising about 800 acres. He is living with his son Peter J. on this farm. The father has always voted the republican ticket. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran church. Peter J., the brother of our subject, while in Wis- consin was a member of the State legisla- ture and held various important offices of his county. The parents of our subject had a family of the following-named children- Annie, now Mrs. Peter Goldberg; Peter J., who is living on the Willmar Farm; and Hans, the subject of this sketch.

Hans J. Dale, of whom this article treats, emigrated to this county when he was ten years old. Until he was seventeen years old he remained on the home farm and attended the district schools of the county. At the age of seventeen years he entered the school in Sparta, Wisconsin, where he remained three years, then engaging as drug clerk for O. F. Newton of that place, with whom he remained six years. In 1874 he removed to Willmar, Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, where he engaged in partnership with Mr. Roise, in the drug and grocery business. They continued in that business until 1884, when they put in a full line of general goods, as before stated. They are among the leading and successful merchants of the village, and are doing an extensive business. In 1876 he erected his fine resi- dence on Litchfield avenue, one of the finest places in the city. He is one of the stock- holders in the Willmar Bank, and is also a director of the same. He also owns an inter- est in the town site of Britton, Marshall county, Dakota Territory.

Mr. Dale was united in marriage in 1874, to Miss Adrine Seierstad, who died January 11, 1879. Our subject married, for his second wife, Miss Martha Iverson, the daughter of J. H. Iverson, of Martell, Wisconsin. Mr. Dale is a republican in his political affilia- tions, and is actively interested in all local matters. He is a member of the board of education, and is one of the prominent and representative business men of the county. He is a man of the strictest honor and integ- rity, and is highly esteemed and respected by all who know him.

R. J. FRANK LOCKE. Prominent among the medical practitioners of Todd county, Minnesota, is the gentleman whose name heads this article, and a resident of the village of Pillsbury, where he is extensively engaged in clinical work. He is a native of the State of New Hampshire, born in Ossipee on the 27th day of April, 1844, and is the son of James and Mary (Townsend) Locke, natives also of the State of New Hampshire. The father of our sub- ject was a master builder by trade, and remained in his native State until 1860, when the family removed to Maine. The father died in 1884 and the mother passed away the same year. They were the parents of the following-named children - Jacob T., Simon J., William P., J. Frank, Arvilla V., Charles A. and Ida B.

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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 85

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