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 87

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 87
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 87

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Mr. Claydon, the subject of this sketch, received his education in his native country , where he attended school until he was fifteen years of age. He then entered a lawyer's office and engaged in the study of law for five years. He then entered the commercial business, which he followed for four years, and then established a bank, in which he was employed for ten years. In 1879 he emigrated to the United States, and after

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landing in New York City removed to Min- nesota, where he settled on a farm in Leaf Lake township, Otter Tail county, where he remained three years. In 1881 he removed to the village of Perham, Otter Tail county, where he assumed the office of secretary of the Prairie Mills Company, which position he held for six years. In 1887 he bought out Mr. Wallace's drug store and has been en- gaged in that business ever since. He held the office of justice of the peace for three years, and is one of the prominent and respected citizens of the village.

Mr. Claydon was united in marriage in 1867 to Miss Harriet Anna Aslett, and this union has been blessed with the following- named children-Frederic, Leonard, Richard, Percy, Isabelle and Edith. Our subject and his family belong to the Episcopal church. In political matters he affiliates with the democratic party, and is one of the active members of the Independent Order of Odd- Fellows. He is a man of the strictest honor and integrity and is highly esteemed by all who know him, and his honorable business methods have built him an extensive trade.

ANDREW O. SATHER, of the firm of Larson & Co., general merchants of Willmar, Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, is a native of Norway. He was born in 1848, · and is the son of Ole and Johannah (Otter- son) Sather, also natives of that kingdom. The father, who was a blacksmith by trade, emigrated to the United States in 1852, with his family, and located in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where he followed his trade until 1854, when he removed to Pierce county, Wisconsin, where he is still residing, engaged in farming.

Mr. Sather, of whom this sketch treats, emigrated to the United States with his par- ents in 1852. He remained at home, attend-

ing the common schools until he was seventeen years old, when he entered the pub- lic school at Hudson, Wisconsin, and after remaining one term engaged in the profes- sion of a school teacher, which vocation he followed for two years. At the expiration of that time he entered the high school at River Falls, Wisconsin, and after leaving there again engaged in school teaching. In 1870 he went to Winona and entered upon a course in the normal school, from which he graduated in 1872. Then, after teaching for two years, he took a business course at the Curtis Business College in Minneapolis, grad- uating in 1875. In 1877 he was married to Miss Carrie A. Anderson, of Martell, Wis- consin, and removed to Cannon Falls, Min- nesota. After remaining there for six months, engaged in the mercantile business, in 1884 his store was destroyed by fire, and he came to Willmar and became a member of the above-mentioned firm.

ENRY KEYE, who is agent for the Farmer's Union Elevator Company, is a resident of the village of Argyle, Mar- shall county, Minnesota. He is a native of Minnesota, born in Frontenac, Minnesota, on the 14th day of October, 1856, and is the son of Andrew and Fredereca (Ouden) Keye, natives of the Province of Brunswick, Germany, and the kingdom of Prussia, respectively.

Mr. Keye, the subject of this biographical sketch, remained at home, attending school and assisting his father operate the home farm, until he had attained the age of twenty-one years. He then engaged in farming on his own account near Frontenac, Minnesota, and after following that occupa- tion for two years removed westward, and in 1881 settled in Argyle, Marshall county, Minnesota. He rented land of his brother,

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and for two years carried on the business of general farming and stock-raising. He then homesteaded 160 acres on section 10, Argyle township, Marshall county, Minnesota, which he has since held. It is a desirable farm, well-improved and under good cultivation. In 1883 he commenced buying wheat and since that time has been employed by the Farmer's Union Elevator Company. The elevator was built in 1884, and previous to that the grain was stored in temporary ware- houses. His farm now comprises 240 acres, 230 acres of which are under cultivation. When Mr. Keye commenced in life for him- self he had $600 as a start, and by hard work, energy and economy he has placed himself in the most desirable circumstances. He has a comfortable dwelling in the vil- lage.

Mr. Keye was united in marriage on the 25th day of May, 1878, to Miss Sophia Meyer, a native of Galena, Illinois, and the daughter of Frederick and Minnie Meyer, natives of Brunswick and Hamburg, respec- tively. Mr. and Mrs. Keye in this union have been blessed with the following named children - Minnie, Lydia, Harry and Maud. Our subject in his political faith belongs to the democratic party. He is actively inter- ested in local matters, and any laudable home enterprise receives his hearty support.

JAMES D. VAN DYKE, one of the leading lawyers at Long Prairie, the county seat of Todd county, Minnesota, is a member of the law firm of Davis & Van Dyke, and of the real estate, loan and insurance firm of Bressler, Davis & Van Dyke. The law firm is composed en personnel of R. E. Davis and James D. Van Dyke, and the real estate firm includes these gentlemen and also George N. Bressler. J. D. Van Dyke is a native of Wisconsin, born in Summit, Wau-

kesha county, on the 10th of May, 1859, and is the son of Samuel W. and Annie (Pat- terson) Van Dyke, natives of the State of Pennsylvania. The parents of our subject . settled at Summit, Wisconsin, in 1834, where they have since remained. The father is a graduate of Marshall College, in Pennsyl- vania, and was admitted to the bar in 1833. The father and mother of our subject are the parents of the following-named children -- William J., Harry L., Carroll, James, Nor- man E. and Annie D.

James D. Van Dyke, the subject of this biographical memoir, remained at home attending the excellent common schools of his native State until he had attained the age of fourteen years. At that period in life he entered the Allison Classical Academy at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, from which he graduated with high honors in 1874. After his graduation he entered the senior class of the preparatory department of the Nashotah Episcopal Theological Seminary. He then attended the State University, and graduated in 1881. In 1881 he removed to the State of Minnesota and settled in Alexandria, where he taught school for some time. He then entered into the study of law in the office of Barto & Barto, the leading attorneys in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. After studying one year with that firm he entered the office of Tolman & Baldwin, of St. Cloud, Min- nesota, remaining with them some six months. At the expiration of that time Mr. Van Dyke returned to the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and entered the law department, from which he graduated in June, 1887. In October, 1887, he returned to Minnesota and located at Long Prairie, Todd county, where he has since remained. He was admitted to practice in all the State courts, and is one of the most able and successful lawyers in Todd county. On the first of June, 1888, Mr. Van Dyke entered into partnership with Mr. Davis, and they have since been

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together, carrying on a lucrative law practice, and, in connection with Mr. Bressler, they do an extensive business in real estate, loan and insurance matters. They are one of the most extensive law firms in the county, and are well and favorably known in that locality.

ILLIAM J. ANDERSON, the present incumbent of the office of county

auditor of Grand Forks county, North Dakota, is a resident of the city of Grand Forks, where he is engaged in his official duties. He is a native of the Dominion of Canada, born in Vienna, Elgin county, Ontario, on the 20th day of May, 1854, and is the son of William and Jane (Plowman) Anderson, natives also of the Dominion. The father died when our subject was a small child, and in 1858 the mother removed to Le Sueur county, Minnesota.

Mr. Anderson, the subject of this article, remained with his mother in Le Sueur county, Minnesota, until 1862. Then on account of the Indian trouble they were forced to leave the country, and removed to St. Paul, Minne- sota, where he attended the public schools until 1868, when he graduated with high honors from the grammar school. He then went to Toronto, where he attended a private school for one year, and again went to St. Paul. For the succeeding three years he was cabin boy on steamboats on the Mississippi river, and for the two or three years following was a newsboy on the steamer "Key City," and other steamers. At various times he worked as a farm laborer, quite a period for Pende- gast & Carter in the flax culture. In the spring of 1875 he removed to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he clerked on a steam- boat for one summer, and then was employed by the Red River Transportation Company as general and purchasing agent, which position he held for three years, attend-

ing to the company's affairs, receiving and paying out all the company's money at Grand Forks. His first public office was that of justice of the peace, to which he was elected in 1876, in Grand Forks. He then formed a partnership with Messrs. Budge and Eshelman, the style of the firm being Budge, Eshelman & Co., in the general merchandising business in Acton, Pembina county, North Dakota. A portion of their trade was with the Indians, north as far as the Turtle mountains and including that tribe. While there Mr. Ander- son received the mail contract from the Government, and his route was from Acton to a place called Sweden, passing through the spot where Grafton now stands. In 1880 he was appointed receiver of the land office by President Hayes, and on the 20th of April, 1880, the first papers were filed in the district. He was re-appointed by Pres- ident Arthur and held the office until Sep- tember, 1888, during which time he did an immense amount of business, over $3,500,000 passing through his hands and about 100,000 different entries. In October, 1888, he was nominated by the republicans for county auditor of Grand Forks county, and after one of the hardest political struggles the county ever had was elected by 370 majority, 4,160 votes being polled. He has since held the office, and in the discharge of the duties which devolve upon the position has given satisfaction to all parties.

Mr. Anderson was united in marriage in November, 1879, in Grand Forks, to Miss Josephine R. Russell, the daughter of Martin and Belle (Gassman) Russell, natives of Den- mark and Norway, respectively. The union has been blessed with two children-Vir- ginia Edith and Raymond Gassman. Our subject is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Acasia Lodge, No. 15, and a member of the Commandery. He has also taken fourteen degrees in Scottish Rite Masonry, and is a

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member of the Knights of Pythias. He is one of the most prominent and leading citi- zens in the county as well as in North Dakota, and his name has been prominently identi- fied with the history of this region. What- ever success he has attained in life is wholly due to his indomitable energy and will, as he was thrown entirely upon his own resour- ces to carve his own way, receiving neither aid nor money from any one. One of the events of his life that he is particularly proud of, and which he now recalls with pleasure, is the fact that he was one of the carriers or newsboys for the old St. Paul Press, doing this while attending school. Mr. Anderson is a republican in political matters and is one of the leading members of that party in the locality in which he lives. A man of the strictest integrity and honor, his word is recognized as being as good as a bond, and he is highly esteemed wherever known, both as a business man and an exemplary citizen. Active, enterprising and energetic, he takes an active interest in all matters effecting home interests, and every laudable enterprise receives his support and encouragement.

ARTIN L. VOUGHT, the editor and proprietor of the Tribune, a weekly democratic periodical published in in the village of Wadena, Wadena county, Minnosota, is a popular and esteemed mem- ber of the newspaper fraternity of the Park Regions. He is a native of the State of Pennsylvania, born in Montour county, on the 14th of January, 1861, and is the only child of Peter S. and Jane C. Vought, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1874 the par- ents removed to Western Pennsylvania, set- tling at Lionesta, Forest county.

Mr. Vought, the subject of this biograph- ical article, received his education in his native State. Up to the age of fourteen years he remained at home on the farm,

assisting his father operate the same and attending the common schools of that county. At the age of fourteen he entered a doctor's office and commenced the study of medicine. After working a few months for the doctor our subject decided that he was not cut out for a physician, and accordingly changed his apprenticeship to that of a printer in the office of the doctor, who was also engaged in the printing business. After being engaged in the printer's trade for two years he helped establish the Commonwealth, of Lionesta, a greenback paper. He remained in connec- tion with that paper for three years, and he then caught the "Western fever." Not even the proffered situation of editor and, man- ager of the paper could induce him to remain, and in 1881 he removed to Minnesota. He settled in what is now the Fifth Ward of Crookston, Minnesota; known at that time as Carinan. He at once took charge of the Car- man Courier of that place, and remained there until June, 1882. In August of that year he started the Ashby Avalanche, in Grant county, Minnesota, which he published for one year. At that time he moved to Her- man, Minnesota, and assumed charge of the mechanical department of the Herald, which position he retained for two years. At the expiration of that time he moved to the vil- lage of Wadena, Wadena county, Minnesota, where he purchased his present paper. He has since materially improved the paper, and it now has a wide circulation. He is prepared to do all kinds of job and advertis- ing work at reasonable rates, satisfaction being guaranteed. The paper is strictly democratic in principles, and Mr. Vought is recognized as one of the most able editorial writers in the northern part of the State.

Mr. Vought was united in marriage on the Sth of May, 1883, to Miss Alice Z. Holman, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Vought have been blessed with one child- Bertha May, born May 2, 1886.

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JOHN H. THOMPSON. Prominent among the business citizens of the village of Eagle Bend, Todd county, Minnesota, is the subject of this biographical memoir, who is engaged in the mercantile business. He is a native of the State of Ohio, born in Colum- biana county, on the 16th of February, 1845, and is the son of John and Ann Jane (John- son) Thompson, natives of Pennsylvania and Ireland, respectively. The father of our subject was a farmer in Ohio, and died in 1881. The mother, passed away in 1847, when our subject was eighteen months of age. They were the parents of the follow- ing-named children - Hugh, Arthur J., Rosa, Sarah and John. The father was married the second time to Miss Eliza Joince, who died a few years after her marriage.

Mr. Thompson, of whom this memoir treats, received his education in Ohio, attend- ing school until sixteen years of age. From that period until he was twenty-one he worked at almost anything he could find to do, and in 1866 removed from Ohio, and in the month of July settled near Northfield, Minnesota, where he remained from 1866 until 1871. In 1871 he went to Todd county, Minnesota, and in June homesteaded a farm on section 30, Iona township, where he remained twelve years, engaged in general farming and stock-raising. In 1883 he removed to the village of Eagle Bend, Todd county, Minnesota, and opened his present store. He is doing a good mercantile busi- ness and carries a full line of general mer- chandise.

Mr. Thompson was married on the 7th day of April, 1869, to Miss Mary H. Bates, a native of New York, and the daughter of Alvan and Sarah (Robinson) Bates. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been blessed with five children, named as follows - Anna B., Rosettie, Elmer, Arthur R. and Sadie. Mr. Thompson and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is

trustee and a local preacher. In political matters he affiliates with the democratic party. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows and is noble grand of the lodge. He is a representative citi- zen of the village, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

JAMES A. COLEHOUR is the proprietor of one of the most delightful summer resorts in Northern Minnesota. The Prospect House, which he owns, is situated on the banks of Battle Lake, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and during the summer months its rooms are crowded with guests from all parts of the South and East. The Prospect House and its location have become the favorites of many tourists. The lake abounds with vast numbers of the finny tribe, and the woods furnish a field full of game for the sports- man. .

Mr. Colehour was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1842. He is the son of Henry and Hannah (Richards) Cole- hour. On the mother's side he is descended from the French, and on the father's side is descended from the German. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed that line of business in Pennsylvania. In 1854 they removed to Illinois, and settled in Mount Carroll, where the father died in 1856.

The subject of our sketch remained at home, helping his mother on the farm and attend- ing school at every opportunity until 1859. That year he went to Philadelphia and engaged in clerking in a grocery store owned by his brother Isaac. At the end of that time he returned to Mount Carroll, Illinois, and on September 4, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Ninety-second Regiment Illinois, Volunteer Infantry. He saw much severe service, and was in a number of

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hard-fought battles. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, and was in College Hill Hospital, Nashville, for three months. He was again wounded in a battle near Florence, Alabama, and as a result lay in the hospital for two months. Then he obtained a furlough and was allowed to return home, where he stayed for two months. He then rejoined his regiment, and continued with them until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged from the service June 21, 1865. He then went to Chicago, where he worked in the postoffice for fourteen years, and in March, 1882, came to Battle Lake, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Finding the beautiful location where his hotel now stands, he put up the building and rented it until the fall of 1888, when he took personal charge of the business. Up to that date he had been engaged in the lumber trade.

Mr. Colehour was united in marriage May 1, 1872, to Miss Katie Catlin, a native of Illinois, and daughter of Seth and Hellen Catlin. This marriage has been blessed with three children-Robert A., James A. and Kathrina H., all of whom are still living.

Mr. Colehour has always been numbered among the prominent citizens of this county. From his first settlement here he has taken a deep interest in the progress and improve. ment of his adopted town, and he has never failed to take a lively part in the welfare of all local business interests. He is, therefore, heart and soul with this country, and has proven himself a valuable aid in its upbuild- ing. Mr. Colehour is a courteous, kindly gentleman, classically educated, genial and warm hearted, and makes an ideal hotel keeper. His caravansary is the favorite resort of many Southern tourists. He strives at all times to provide his table with the most popular of delicacies, and by thus doing has won the deserved distinction of keeping one of the best places of resort in Northern

Minnesota. He belongs to the A. O. U. W. and to the Everts Post, No. 138, G. A. R., of which he was department commander one year. He was the commander of the First Park Region encampment held at Battle Lake. In politics he affiliates with the repub- lican party, and is a prominent member of the Baptist church.

ILLIAM KISSACK, a successful and industrious agriculturist of Wadena county, Minnesota, is a resident of section 28, Wadena township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native of the kingdom of Great Britain, born on the Isle of Man, on the 31st day of July, 1846, and is the son of Thomas and Eleanor (Gale) Kissack, natives also of the same island. The father was a hat manufacturer by occupation. The father and mother of the present subject were the parents of the fol- lowing-named children -Thomas and Rob- ert, who died in infancy, and Jane, who is now the widow of the late William Relph, attorney-at-law, Barrow-in-Furness, England.

Mr. Kissack, of whom this article treats, remained on the island of his birth until he was nineteen years of age, during which time he attended school, early instilling into his mind those principles of thrift, integrity and frugality which so distinguish the nationality from which he springs. In 1861 he became articled as a pupil teacher in the Thomas Street Wesleyan day-school, in Douglas, of that island, where he remained for something over three years employed as a teacher, when by mutual agreement the indentures were cancelled. In 1865 he removed to Barrow- in-Furness, England, where he entered his brother-in-law's law office. He remained with him one year and then paid a visit to the home of his childhood on the Isle of Man, where he secured a position in the gen-

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eral postoffice at that place. In 1868 he returned to Barrow and again entered his brother's office, receiving the position of managing clerk. In 1873 he joined the Furness colony, which is fully described in the biographical memoir of James Ashburner and others, found in another department of this ALBUM. They emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1874 and at once removed to the State of Minnesota, where they settled in Wadena county. Our subject took his present claim on section 28, Wadena township, where he has since remained, engaged in a successful farming and stock- raising business.

Mr. Kissack was married on the 21st day of May, 1870, to Miss Mary Agnes Ash- burner, the daughter of Thomas and Eleanor Ashburner, natives of Barrow-in-Furness, England. This union of Mr. and Mrs. Kis- sack has been blessed with nine children, named as follows-Eleanor Lishman, Thomas Ashburner, James Stephen, William Relph, Amelia Anna, Frederick Gale, Ethel Gale, Charles Edward and Marie Isabel. Our sub- ject has been town treasurer for several years, as well as clerk of his own school dis- trict, No. 3, and is one of the active men of the county. In political matters he is a strong protectionist, and affiliates with the republican party.

OUIS LARSON. There is probably no man in Kandiyohi county who is more worthy of favorable notice in a volume devoted to the pioneers of Minnesota than the subject of our present article, Louis Larson, the proprietor of the mill at New London, Minnesota. He is one of the pio- neers of that locality, having been a resident of that village for over thirty years; and through his uniform integrity and honorable business methods he is rated as one of the

most solid and substantial citizens of the county, and his word is recognized as being as good as a bond.

Mr. Larson came here in 1859, and during the first three years was engaged in hunting, farming and trapping. In June, 1862, he commenced building a saw mill, but was soon forced to abandon it on account of the Indian outbreak, which began in August of that year. With the other settlers he was driven away by the Indians, and he went to St. Paul and Minneapolis, where he remained until the spring of 1865. He then returned in company with Samuel Stoner, and in part- nership they completed the saw mill, which was the first mill erected within the present limits of Kandiyohi county. In 1872 Mr. Stoner sold his interest and our subject formed a co-partnership with others, under the name and style of Adams, Larson, Sperry & Wright. This firm owned the saw mill and erected a flouring mill, and they ran both for a period of ten years, when the saw mill was discontinued. They still continue to operate the flouring mill, which has been greatly improved and remodeled. It is now equipped with eight sets of patent rollers, and has a capacity of 100 barrels of flour per day. They do quite an extensive ship- ping trade and also supply the home market.

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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 87

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