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 95

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 95
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 95

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In 1869 Mr. Holmes was united in mar- riage to Lucy Sherman, of St. Cloud, Min- nesota.

The subject of our sketch is one of the most prominent republicans in this part of Minnesota, is a leading member of the Masonic fraternity, and one of the most influ- ential of Becker county's wealthy men. His business interests have been many and of varied kinds, and in whatever lines his attention has been occupied he has always met with the highest degree of success. For

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years past he has taken large contracts for furnishing lumber and ties for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, out of which he has realized large sums of money. He owns numerous buildings in Detroit and lives in a beautiful and costly residence in the southern part of the city. A man of the strictest integrity, the word of E. G. Holmes is recog- nized as being as good as a bond.

EV. ISAAC F. DAVIDSON, the pres- ent pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church in Warren, Marshall county, Min- nesota, is a native of Canada. He was born in Oxford county, Ontario, Canada, on the 6th of March, 1860, and is the son of Isaac and Christiana (Cameron) Davidson, also natives of Ontario, Canada. The father of our sub- ject was of Irish descent, and the mother was of Scotch extraction.

Mr. Davidson, of which this article treats, remained on the home farm, with the usual educational advantages of the common schools until he had attained the age of twenty-three years. He then worked on a farm for one year, and then decided to follow the ministry, feeling called to that profession. His first regular charge was in Pelican Rapids, Min- nesota, although he had done considerable work in this line while in Manitoba. After remaining in Pelican Rapids nine months, in October, 1885, he removed to Osakis, Minne: sota, where he had charge of the Methodist congregation for two years. At the expira- tion of that time he was stationed at Aitkin, Minnesota, and for the succeeding year had charge of the church at that place. During three months of that time, however, on account of sickness, his pulpit was filled by a supply. On the 16th of October, 1888, he. removed to Warren, Marshall county, Minnesota, where he has since discharged his ministerial duties. He is an able minis-

ter, a man of wide reading and information, a true Christian, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

Mr. Davidson was united in marriage on the 10th of April, 1883, to Miss Eva A. Holmes, and this union has been blessed with two children-Etta Grace and Francis Willford. Mrs. Davidson was born in Nova Scotia, and is the daughter of Joshua and Naoma (Lockheart) Holmes, also natives of Nova Scotia. Our subject is a member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows. He is an exemplary citizen, and a man of more than ordinary ability.

OHN BRENEMAN, a farmer who resides at Caledonia, is one of the most highly respected as well as solid and substantial citizens of Traill county, North Dakota. He was born in Clarion county, Pennsyl- vania, July 22, 1836, and is a son of John and Mary (Young) Breneman, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject was brought up on the farm with his parents, attending school until he was about fifteen years old and then engaged in boat building, although he made his home with his parents until he attained his majority, having been given his "time " by his father when nineteen years old. When he was twenty-one years of age, in 1857, our subject went to Houston county, Minnesota, where he was employed at carpenter work for about two years. In 1859 he crossed the plains to Pike's Peak, Colorado, and engaged in gold-mining, his partner being John McDonahugh. His success at mining was not very satisfactory and they went to Kansas City, Missouri, and from there with a Government train to Salt Lake City. They then engaged in hunting and trapping through Colorado and the far Southwest. At this they were very successful, killing as many as

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ninety-six buffaloes in one day. They endured many hardships and went through many perilous and exciting adventures. They were among the Indians a good deal, but never had any serious trouble with them until just as they were leaving, when the redskins fired upon them and tried to stampede their stock. In 1860 they returned to Houston county, Minnesota, but our subject did not do much of any- thing until 1861. On the 26th of Sep- tember, 1861, he enlisted in Company M, Eighth Missouri Volunteer Zouaves, the only regiment with twelve companies in the service. He served for three years, or until the expiration of his term of enlistment, and participated in the following battles : Fort Henry, Fort Hymen, Fort Donaldson, Pitts- burg, Shiloh, Corinth, Haines' Bluff, Vicks- burg, Arkansaw Post, and Jackson, Tennes- see. He then went back to Memphis, where he was appointed wagon-master, and he held that position until he was mustered out of the service. From Memphis he went to Atlanta and participated in the siege; then went to Blue Mountain at the time Sherman was in pursuit of Hood. About this time Sherman ordered the wagon-train cut down to serviceable dimensions. Our subject fol- lowed orders, and secured a man named James Carr to take charge of the train, while he got the balance of his train and effects ready to turn over to the Government at Chattanooga. In the meantime Sherman had commenced his "March to the Sea," and as our subject was too late to join this ex- pedition he returned to his home in Min- nesota. He was engaged in clerking during that winter and then went to the Pennsyl- vania oil fields and worked around the oil wells on Walnut Island. In the fall of 1865 he returned home, was married, and engaged in farming in Houston county. While in the army he had contracted a disease of the eyes and in 1871 it terminated

in his going totally blind. He did not recover his sight until 1874, and remained upon his farm until 1875. He then put in one year at grading on a railroad near Big Stone Lake, after which he returned to his farm. The next spring he sold out and put in another season at railroad work. In the fall of 1877 he came to Traill county, Dakota, and bought a farm of 160 acres adjoining the town site of Caledonia. He still owns this farm, although he lives in the village. His farm is one of the most valuable in the county and he also owns a nice residence and a business building in the village. Mr. Breneman has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and every enterprise calculated to benefit this locality receives his hearty aid and encouragement. He is a member of the Odd-Fellows fraternity, and served for four years as deputy sheriff. He is a man of the strictest integrity and his word is considered as good as a bond.

Mr. Breneman was married on the 5th of November, 1865, to Miss Mary L. Patten, a daughter of William and Mary Patten, who were natives of Scotland. Their mar- riage has been blessed with the following children-William, Mabel, Fred, Dora, May, Chester, John and Leon.

ANDREW T. LUND is one of the most prominent business men of Vining, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in several lines of business. In partnership with Mr. Nyhud he is engaged in the general merchandise trade, person- ally conducts a large lumber and flour and feed business, and also has charge of the Northern Pacific elevator. In all his busi- ness except that of general merchandise he is sole proprietor. Mr. Lund was born in Kolvereid Prestejold, Norway, near the city of Throndhjem, August 19, 1848.

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Mr. Lund is the son of Targoe B. and Bolatha M. (Andrews) Lund, both of whom were natives of Norway. During his whole life-time the father was a sailor and held the position of mate on a sailing vessel. He also farmed to some extent, and was one of the best known persons along the coast of Norway.

Andrew T. spent his early years with his parents in the old country. He attended the common schools and obtained a good education. In June, 1866, he came to America, landing at Quebcc, where he remained but one week, and from thence came westward to St. Croix county, Wiscon- sin. He worked for farmers in the neigh- borhood until winter came upon them and the ground became so frozen as to stop work. He then took his departure and started for Menomonee, fifty miles distant. He started out with but little money, and was forced to walk the entire distance, which he did in one day. Reaching that point, he hired out to Knap, Stout & Company, lumbermen, for whom he worked fifteen months. He then returned to St. Croix county, and the next summer, in company with a man by the name of Myher, bought six yoke of oxen, and ran a breaking team until the next fall. He then secured work in a saw-mill owned by a man named Bailey, continuing to work for him for $26 per month, but, sad to say, has never received one cent for that winter's work. His next move was to New Richmond, Wisconsin, where he hired out to a man by the name of Jacobs, owner of a large lumber business and a large farm. Mr. Lund continued working in the woods dur- ing the winter, and in the spring found work on the river, in the summer finding work on the farnı. Mr. Lund remained in the employ of Mr. Jacobs for eight years, at the end of which time he went to Hudson, Wisconsin, where he engaged at carpentering and paint- ing until 1879. In that year he went to

Otter Tail county, Minnesota, settling on a homestead, where he has continued to live ever since. His land being the town site of Vining, much of the building that has been done in Vining has been done through his instrumentality. He laid the side-track for the railroad company, working about thirty men, and made numer- ous other improvements. He was appointed postmaster during President Garfield's administration and holds the office yet, having also established the postoffice.

November 5, 1871, Mr. Lund was united in the bonds of wedlock to Miss Anna K. Ammondson, a native of Norway. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lund, eight of whom are now living-Thea A., Melvin B., Charles A., Oscar A., Harry A., Andrew T., Emil A. and Godrund O.

Mr. Lund has been closely identified with the business and financial interests of Vining since its foundation, and in every way has he striven to add to its prosperity and rapid growth. Being the earliest settler and the owner of the town site on which the village stands, he is certainly entitled to the right of being called the father of the town. He is a man of broad ideas, thoughtful and in- telligent, and thoroughly posted on the cur- rent events of the day. He is indeed a self- made man, having acquired nearly all of his store knowledge by private study and in- struction. He is a leading member of the Lutheran church, and also of the I. O. O. F. In politics he affiliates with the republican party. He has held numerous offices of trust within the gift of the people, and in every case has proven himself worthy and capable. He has been town clerk, justice of the peace nine years, and a member of the board of school directors. He owns con- siderable valuable property, notably six hundred acres of land adjoining the town site of Vining, and has one of the finest country residences in the Park Regions.

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Mr. Lund became most widely known in the years 1881, 1882 and 1883, when the question of liquor license came up in his town, at which time he used all his power and influence to keep the same out of his township, which he succeeded in doing, and his town has been a temperance town ever since.

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ARTHUR W. SHEETS. Most promi- nent among the members of the edi- torial fraternity of the famous Park Regions of Minnesota is the gentleman whose name heads this article, a resident of Long Prairie, Todd county, where he publishes the Todd County Argus. He is a native of Indiana, born in Randolph county, on the 9th of October, 1851, and is the son of Lewis and Catharine (Sarff) Sheets, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. In 1830 the parents of our subject settled in Indiana, where they remained, engaged in farming, until 1871. They then removed to Todd county, Minnesota, where they have since remained, following agricultural pursuits. They are the parents of the following-named children-John H., Arthur W., Sophrona E., William P. and Lew C.

Mr. Sheets, of whom this article treats, received his education in Indiana and Minne- sota. He attended the common schools and Ridgeville College of his native State until he had attained the age of twenty years, at which time he removed with his parents to Minnesota. He completed his education in Carlton College, Northfield, Minnesota, where he attended during 1872 and 1873. After leaving school he engaged in the profession of school-teaching for two years, in Todd and Goodhue counties. In April, 1876, he formed a partnership with his brother, J. H. Sheets, in the newspaper business and this arrangement continued until January 1,

1880. He then became foreman for W. C. Brower, who purchased the Argus, and this arrangement continued until October 8, 1880. At that time Mr. Sheets purchased the paper and has since been actively engaged in its publication, his brother retir- ing from the business in 1888. The paper has an extensive circulation, both in Todd and adjoining counties, and has a great influ- ence in all local matters. Mr. Sheets is a thorough scholar and is recognized as one of the ablest editorial writers in the Park Regions,

Mr. Sheets, the subject of this memoir, was united in marriage December 31, 1876, to Miss A. Ella M. Cosson, and this union has been blessed with seven children, named as follows-Royden L., John W., Arthur L., Ralph M., Ivan and Sylvan (twins), and Mer- riam C. Mrs. Sheets is a native of Rice county, Minnesota, and completed her edu- cation in Sauk Centre. For four years after graduation she engaged in school-teaching in Todd county, Minnesota. She is the daughter of Hon. Caleb Cosson. . Her father is a farmer. In 1862 he was a repre- sentative in the State legislature.

Mr. Sheets is a republican in his political affiliations and is one of the prominent men of the village. He and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which organization he is steward and trustee. From 1883 until 1885 he held the office of postmaster of Long Prairie. He is a mem- ber of the Odd-Fellows fraternity.

ILLIAM BUDGE, who is closely identified with real estate matters at Grand Forks, North Dakota, deserves especial mention in a volume devoted to the prominent men of the Red River Valley. He has been closely connected with the history of this region since its earliest settlement, and,

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associated with Captain Griggs in many important enterprises, has done a great deal to aid in the growth and development of Grand Forks and vicinity. A man of wide experience, energetic, enterprising and liberal, no man has done more to promote the general welfare, and his name is indissolubly associated with the history of the valley. A man of high character and the strictest integrity, his word is as good as a bond, and he is highly esteemed both as a business man and an exemplary citizen.

ILLIAM D. BATES, editor and pro- prietor of the daily and weekly Herald of Grafton, North Dakota, is one of the leading newspaper men in the Red River Valley and North Dakota. He is a native of New York State, born in Cherry Valley, Otsego county, on the 29th day of January, 1859, and is the son of William and Mary (Gill) Bates, natives of New York and Ire land, respectively.

Mr. Bates, the subject of this biograph- ical review, received his education in the district schools of his native State, and at the age of twelve years entered a printing office and served for one year as a "devil." He then removed with his parents to Min- nesota, and located in Hastings, where he entered a three-years' apprenticeship in the Hastings Gazette office. After serving his time he worked in the office of the Hastings New Era, and after remaining with them one year was forced on account of his health to return to his father's farm in Sibley county, Minnesota, where he remained one year engaged in manual labor. He then went back to Hastings and resumed his position, but in the winter of 1879 he removed to St. Cloud, Minnesota, and worked on the Journal Press for about six months. At the expira-

tion of that time he removed to Glencoe, Minnesota, and took charge of the Glencoe Enterprise. In the fall of 1880, in partner- ship with A. G. Ansell, he leased the paper and ran it eighteen months, when Ansell's health failed and he had to leave for a more genial climate. In the spring of 1882 he re- turned, and they started a job office, but find- ing that the business did not yield enough in- come for them both, our subject retired from the business, and in August, 1882, went to Dakota, and for the succeeding eighteen months was foreman of the mechanical department of the Grand Forks Daily Herald. He then removed to Grafton and took charge of the News and Times, which position he occupied until 1884. In the fall of 1884 he purchased the Park River Gazette, which he published three years, with the best of suc- cess, increasing the paper from a three col- umn to a nine, and building up the circula- tion from 113 to 2,000 copies. He paid $600 for the office, and after three years sold the good-will and reputation of the paper for $1,000. He then removed his type, press, machinery, etc., to Grafton, and in the fall of 1887 purchased the Grafton Herald, a paper which, on account of poor management, had lost its patronage. He at once put in a first-class office, together with a River power press, employed ten men, and rapidly brought the paper from a 300 circulation up to 1,200. On the 1st of March he started the Daily Herald, and now has a good start, and as long as his patrons give him hearty and proper encouragement he will give them a first-class paper.

Mr. Bates was married in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, on the 4th of January, 1881, to Miss Susie Mayhew, the daughter of Capt. G. B. and Melissa (Smith) Mayhew. Mr. and Mrs. Bates, in this union, have been blessed with two children - George and DeWitt. Our subject is actively interested in all local matters. He is a man of determination and

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perseverance, and the excellent judgment, courtesy and sound common sense which have characterized his management of the paper have given him a high place in news- paper circles of North Dakota.

DWARD CONNELLY, who was one of the earliest settlers of Wilkin county, Minnesota, is a resident of section 16, town- ship 133, range 47, where he owns a section of land and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He located in Wilkin county in 1859, but went on to Clay county, where he remained eighteen months, work- ing for the Hudson Bay Company in George- town. He then went to Fort Gary, Manitoba, and for two years worked as a fancy gardener. He then purchased wheat for Farrington & Company, of St. Paul, shipping from Fort Gary to Hatche's Battalion in Pembina. He then went to McCauleyville, in 1864, and worked for D. McCauley for five years, being overseer of an ox-train from St. Cloud to different points in Dakota. In the spring of 1868 he homesteaded his present place on section 16, town 133, range 47, where he has since remained. He has an extensive grove of trees, having set out 50,000 trees of different varieties. He has one hundred head of fine graded stock and is one of the leading farmers of the county.

Mr. Connelly is a native of Ireland, born in Enneskillen, county of Fermenaugh, April 25, 1833, and is the son of Terrance and Catharine (Carlon) Connelly, also natives of Ireland. The father died in 1874 and the inother in 1889. They were the parents of eight children-Patrick, James, Edward, John, Hugh, Thomas, Terrance and Anna.

Our subject, Mr. Connelly, lived with his grandparents from the age of six months until he was fifteen years old. He then emi- grated to the United States, and after land-

ing at Philadelphia went to New Jersey, where he remained seven years. He started to learn the printer's trade, but as he did not like it and the fact of five years' appren- ticeship, he learned gardening and followed the same while he remained there. He then removed to Minnesota, remaining in St. Paul two years, whence he went to the Red River Valley, where he has since remained.

Mr. Connelly was married March 31, 1868, to Miss Ellen McDonald, a native of Ireland and an employe of Mr. McCauley, for whom our subject worked. They have been blessed with four children-Margret Catharine, Ellen Auna, Edward Terrence and Sophia Gordon. Our subject and his family belong to the Catholic church, of which he is a trustee. He is a democrat in politics and prominent in all local enterprises. He is a county commissioner, having held that position for two terms. He is a man of the highest integrity and honor, and is highly esteemed.

TTO F. STOLTZ, proprietor of the Argyle livery stables, Argyle, Mar- shall county, Minnesota, is a native of Wis- consin. He was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and is the son of Henry and Car- rie (Bochnick) Stoltz, natives of Germany.

Our subject remained on the home farm and attended school until he was twenty- two, with the exception of the winter of 1872, when he worked in the Wisconsin pin- eries. When he was nine years old he removed to Olmsted county, Minnesota, with his parents. When he had attained his twenty-second year he bought a farm, which he worked for one year, then sold out and removed to Marshall county, Minnesota, and located in Argyle, where he followed farming and took teaming contracts for five years. At the expiration of that time he

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purchased a barn and opened his present livery stable, which he has since run. He now has a first class business, owns sixteen horses, and in addition owns a fine village residence.

Mr. Stoltz was married in Olmsted county, Minnesota, on the 13th of Novem- ber, 1880, to Miss Elizabeth Biers, a native of the State of Ohio. Her parents were of German descent. Mr. and Mr. Stoltz in this union have been blessed with two children - Lovinia and Myrtle. Mr. Stoltz has been constable for seven years and still holds that office. He is one of the leading and sub- stantial business men of Argyle, and is actively interested in all local enterprises. He is a man of the strictest honor and integ- rity.

R. JOSIAH S. RICHARDSON is the leading physician and surgeon of Perham, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. He was born March 8, 1826, in Lowell, Massa- chusetts.

The subject of our sketch is the son of Josiah and Martha (Kimball) Richardson, natives of Massachusetts. The father was a printer by occupation and was employed in that kind of work throughout the most of his life. The parents are both dead. They had three children -Josiah S., Obadiah W., and Harriette.

Dr. Richardson lived with his parents during his early life, receiving his education at Lowell, Massachusetts. For three years he attended Andover University, and then entered Harvard, from which institution he graduated in medicine in 1848, at the age of twenty-two years. After a short time he went to Wisconsin, where he remained for seven years. Being located in one of the new counties in the State, he had but little practice, so turned his attention somewhat

to the real estate business. From Wisconsin he removed to Howard county, Iowa, where he engaged in the practice of his profession and also in land speculation for five years. Removing thence, for two years he practiced medicine in Forestville, Minnesota, after which, for ten years, from 1861 to 1871, he practiced in Rockford, Wright county. He then removed to Chaska, Carver county, engaging in professional work in that city until 1879, in which year he came to Perham, where he has since been located.

Dr. Richardson was married November 20, 1854, in Waushara county, Wisconsin, to Miss Sarah Jane Jenks. Miss Jenks was born October 13, 1836, in Erie county, Ohio. She was the daughter of Almer and Jane (McCumber) Jenks, the father a native of New York and the mother a native of Penn- sylvania. The parents are both dead. The mother died at the age of sixty-five, in Wright county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Jenks had a family of five children - Sarah Jane, Oliver Augustus, Frances Augusta, Samuel Michael and David McCumber. Almer Augustus died July 26, 1888, aged forty-seven years. The rest of the children are all living. Mrs. Dr. Richardson was educated in the high schools of Sandusky City, Ohio. Dr. and Mrs. Richardson have six children - A. O., Jennie M., Lilian Fran- ces, Howard M., Florence Lizzie and Nettie. A. O., the oldest, is one of the county com- missioners of Otter Tail county and resides in the village of Butler. Jennie M. married George Ehrmantroit and now lives in Minneapolis. They have five children - Lily, Josiah, Carl and twins, unnamed, born January 31, 1889. Lilian Frances married Michael Popler, a resident of Butler, and by whom she has had three children. Howard M. is married, has no children, and is a resident of Butler. Florence Lizzie lives in Minneapolis, and Nettie lives with her parents.

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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 95

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