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 97

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 97
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 97

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Mr. Schmitz was united in marriage in Woodville, Calumet county, Wisconsin, to Miss Maggie Kees, a daughter of John and Anna (Thiel) Kees, natives of Germany. This marriage has been blessed with one child - Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz are both leading members of the Catholic church.

HOMAS W. DUNLAP is one of the leading and most influential business men of Audubon, Becker county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the general merchan- dise trade. For several years he also handled lumber, but that was only continued for a short period. His attention is now given exclusively to his mercantile business, which has grown to large dimensions.

Mr. Dunlap was born in the northern part of Ireland, near Armagh, October 9, 1845. His parents were James and Jane (McMeans) Dunlap, who came to the United States in 1866, settling first in Ohio. They lived for a time in Kentucky, and then removed to Illinois, where the father still lives. The mother lives with the subject of our sketch. In the father's family there were thirteen children, nine of whom grew to man and womanhood-Thomas W., Robert, Alexan- der M., Mary Ann, John G., Eliza J., James, Adam and Margaret M.

The subject of our sketch remained with his parents during his early life, and was given the advantage of a good education. He continued his scholastic training until he was twenty years of age, having taught school for one year up to that time. He then engaged in the profession of teaching for one year, when, in 1866, he came with his parents to the United States. For three years he engaged in clerking in Ohio, and from thence removed to Livingston county, Illinois, where he taught school for one year. His next move was to Carlton county, Min-

nesota, where he engaged in clerking in a gen- eral store for about a year. Leaving that place he went to Audubon, Becker county, same Staté, where he has since resided, and where he has built up a large and increasing business.

Mr. Dunlap, in April, 1880, was wedded to Miss Emma L. Rollins, a native of Minnesota, born in Anoka county. This union has been blessed with five children-Jennie L., Flor- ence Ada, Winnifred E., Alexander Leonard, and a babe, unnamed.

Mr. Dunlap is a man of sterling business qualities, is honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow men, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of all who know him. His worth as an official has been tested in many ways and he has been found to be cor- rect and painstaking. He has held the fol- lowing offices : Village treasurer, township treasurer, and was postmaster of Audubon for a term of four years. He is at present township supervisor and chairman of the board of county commissioners of Becker county. In politics he is a stanch republi- can, and is a leading member of the Congre- gational church, of which he is the present treasurer. In his business ventures he has been eminently successful, and besides his general store in the village, owns a one-half interest in 210 acres of land and the stock thereon.

HOMAS E. YERXA. The most impor- tant mercantile establishment which greets the stranger entering Fargo is the immense wholesale and retail emporium of T. E. Yerxa, who deals in dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes and groceries. This is one of the largest, if not the largest, general mercantile house in Dakota, and certainly is one of the best known and most popular, for it was established originally in 1875 by Mr. W. A. Yerxa, brother of the

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present proprietor, who was one of Fargo's pioneer citizens, and who was at that time its mayor. T. E. Yerxa, the present proprietor, bought his brother's interest in 1884, and has since that time operated on his own account, and with marked and increasing success.

T. E. Yerxa first came to Fargo in 1878, and he remained two years in the employ of his brother, W. A. Yerxa. He then left to go into business in Pembina, Dakota, where he remained four years. He was in the gen- eral merchandising buiness in Pembina and operated branch stores all through the county. He was very successful there, and was one of the best-known and most popular men in that section. It was from this point he came in 1884, when he moved to Fargo and engaged in his present business; intro- ducing the same wise and correct business methods which prevailed in Pembina, he has built up a large and lucrative cash business. His store is on the same combination plan as Lehmann's famous "Fair," of Chicago, with the single exception that, whereas Lehmann's establishment in several departments is con- trolled by others, Mr. Yerxa's is controlled and managed solely by himself. He operates four distinct stores or departments under one roof, namely, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes and groceries, carrying an aggre- gate stock of $100,000, employingtwenty-five people and doing a business of from $250,000 to $300,000 a year. He has unquestionably the largest stock of dry goods in the city and is doing the bulk of the business. This in a measure is a brief outline of Mr. Yerxa's business career, and it is not hard to diagnose a few other reasons, in an analysis of Mr. Yerxa's successful business career, which have contributed to his steady advances in business.

Mr. Yerxa is a mild and pleasant gentle- man, conservative in his habits, considerate and courteous to his employés and does not live in a fog of business worry. He prefers

sunshine to shadow and his pleasant face in any store would make customers feel at ease. The same spirit of common-sense courtesy prevails among the employés, and all work in a spirit of harmony for the general result. The writer spent a few pleasant moments in Mr. Yerxa's company and from him learned many things in reference to the effect of prohibition (which has been a question much agitated) on the trade of the city. He said it may stagnate business for a while, but it would have no permanent effect. He said it was absurd to think that money must filter through a saloon before it reaches the legiti- mate channels of trade, and thinks the country is a producing country and not dependent on the liquor traffic for revenue. From his stand- point business is in a healthy condition and the outlook for Fargo is more promising than at any time since the " boom."

Thomas E. Yerxa, whose name heads our present article, was born on the 24th of November, 1851, near Fredericton, New Brunswick, and is a son of Abram and Eliz- abeth (White) Yerxa, who were natives of New Brunswick and Maine, respectively. The parents raised a large family, the fol- lowing being a record of their children- Mary Jane, now Mrs. Jouett, of Boston, Massachusetts ; Catharine, now Mrs. John Cooper, of Niles, Michigan ; Whitfield, mar- ried Miss Lizzie Barber, and lives in Minne- apolis ; Morilda, now Mrs. Thorne, of St John, New Brunswick ; Woodford A., mar- ried Eva Gould and lives in Minneapolis ;. Thomas E., our subject; Annie, single and living with the parents in Minneapolis; Le Baron, married Miss Carrie Potter and lives in Salt Lake City ; Ida, now Mrs. Nesmith, of Minneapolis ; Emma Blanch, now Mrs. Miner, of Minneapolis ; Fred R., married Nellie Cabot, of Boston, Massachusetts ; and Nella, now Mrs. Keith, of Minneapolis.

Thomas E. Yerxa's early life was spent at home in attendance upon the common

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PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA

schools. When he was eleven years of age he commenced clerking in a store at Fred- ericton, in which he remained for two years. He then, with the balance of the family, removed to St. John, New Brunswick, where our subject again began clerking, which he fol- lowed there for three years. He then left home and started in life alone, coming to St. Paul, Minnesota, in March, 1869. There he began clerking for Cathcart & Co., dry goods merchants, and remained with them for seven years, or during the time they continued in business. He then clerked for D. W. Ingersoll & Co. in the same line for two years, and at the expiration of that time, in 1878, he came to Fargo, and clerked for Goodman & Yerxa until the spring of 1880. He then went to Pembina, North Dakota, and bought out the firm of Judson Lamoure & Company. He soon afterward established and purchased branch stores at Cavileer, Hamilton and Beaulieu, North Dakota. He ran these, together with his main store, until June, 1884, when he disposed of his interests there and came to Fargo and purchased the stock, building and business of W. A. Yerxa & Company, as has already been stated in the foregoing portion of this article. He has since carried on the business, and his success is attested by the fact that he is to-day the heaviest merchant in North Dakota. He is a man of the highest moral character and integrity, and his word is recognized as being as good as a bond. An active member of the Presbyterian church and an earnest and sincere worker in Sunday-school and all other moral matters, no man in the city is more highly esteemed. He is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity. He has always taken a deep interest in all matters calculated to aid in the development of the city, and every laudable enterprise receives his earnest support and encouragement. He affiliates with the republican party in polit- ical matters.

Mr. Yerxa was married at St. Paul to Miss Ida M. Parsons, a daughter of John R. and Sallie P. (Putnam) Parsons. She was born in Augusta, Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Yerxa have been the parents of the following- named children-Alice Maud, who died in St. Paul when nineteen months old ; Thomas F., Herbert R., Charles W., Ernest L. B., Mabel M. and Myrtle M. (twins).

EORGE A. WHITNEY is one of the leading merchants and business men of Wadena, Wadena county, Minnesota. He has been prominently identified with business interests of that locality for a num- ber of years and his name is indissolubly associated with the history of the growth and development of both the village and sur-

rounding country. He has taken an active interest in all matters of a public nature, and has held various local offices, always doing his full share to aid any public work affect- ing the welfare of his home. Enterprising and liberal, a man of the strictest integrity, he stands high in the esteem of all who know him, and his word is considered as good as a bond. He is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is the pre- sent senior vice-commander of the Park Region Encampment Association.

A. BOWMAN is one of the members of the firm of S. N. Horneck & Co., dealers in general merchandise, Detroit, Becker county, Minnesota. This gentleman has been located in this village since 1880, and has taken a prominent and influential place among the business men in the county. He is a native of Buffalo, New York, where he was born in 1840.

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The parents of the subject of our sketch were Eli H. and Ahyada (Joslyn) Bowman, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont. The father, during the most of his life, was engaged in farming, and to some extent in the milling business. Com- ing to Minneapolis in 1866 he there engaged in the milling business with considerable suc- cess, and from thence removed to Heron Lake, Jackson county, Minnesota. In the latter place he turned his attention to the lumber business and retained his residence there until his death, which occurred in 1881. The mother is still living with her children. Of the father's family there are now four children living - Melissa (now Mrs. O. B. King, of Minneapolis); Mary (now Mrs. L. Crary, of Webster City, Iowa); Ella (now Mrs. B. Detler, also of Webster City, Iowa), and the subject of our sketch. The father was a man of much prominence wherever he lived, being a man of excellent qualities, and possessed of a good education. He held the office of justice of the peace, and was also postmaster for some years. The grandfather of the subject of our sketch was Benjamin Bowman, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to New York and settled ten miles east of Buffalo early in the present century. At that place he laid out a town and named it Bowmansville, it being in Erie county, New York, He was engaged in milling and farming in the county in which he lived until his death. He reared a family of ten children, only one of whom is now living, Palmer S., now a resident of Bowmansville, and aged sixty-four years. The Bowmans were all men noted for their stability of character, their honesty and faithfulness to every duty, and were revered by every one with whom they came in contact. They were men of worth and wealth, and occupied prominent positions wherever they lived.

The subject of our sketch spent his child- hood days in the town which bore the

family name in New York. His time was occupied with work on the farm and in the mill, and also in attending school. This life continued until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in Company E, Seventy- eighth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He was with this regiment in the service eleven months, being promoted to the position of sergeant. He was taken sick at Little Washington, in Virginia, and was then discharged on account of disabilities. After his discharge he returned to the State of New York, going to Buffalo, where, after recovering his health, he attended Hick's Commercial College. Graduating from that institution in 1863, he then engaged as book- keeper in the drug store of W. H. Peabody, continuing in that employment for two years. Changing his line of business, he was employed in the United States Express office for one year at Buffalo. At the end of this period he commenced a very satis- factory and profitable engagement with Sidney Shepard & Company, jobbers and manufacturers of tinware. He remained with this company as their head book-keeper for fourteen years, and then severed his con- nections with them so that he might come West and engage in business for himself. Then in 1880 he went to Detroit, Minnesota, where he had been in company with his present partner in the same business since 1873, the partner having had charge of their affairs since that date. The firm opened the third business house in the village and are now the pioneer merchants of the place.

Mr. Bowman was married in 1866 to Miss Eva L. Mooney, daughter of G. V. and E. Mooney, of Buffalo, New York. One son has blessed this union-Horace M.

Mr. Bowman is one of the most influential citizens of the county, and has identified himself with the local and state politics of the democratic party. He is a member of the G. A. R.," F. C. Choat Post, No. 67,

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and takes a lively interest in all matters of this nature. He was president of the city council in 1882, and has held other positions of trust and responsibility with credit to himself and with profit to his constituency. He has purchased largely of city property and lives in a fine residence on Washington avenue.

ILLIAM P. CLEVELAND, M. D., the county physician and surgeon of Traill county, North Dakota, is one of the most prominent and widely-known residents of Caledonia. He is one of the leading phy- sicians in the Red River Valley, and stands high in his profession both as a medical scholar and a practitioner. He was the first regular graduate to locate in Traill county, and the eminent success which has crowned his efforts is indeed well deserved.

Dr. Cleveland was born in Madison, Somer- set county, Maine, August 10, 1848, and is a lineal descendant of the same family from which ex-President Grover Cleveland springs. His father was Hon. Dinsmore Cleveland, who for a number of years was a member of the house and senate of the Maine legisla- ture. Our subject received a thorough classical and medical education in Bowdoin College, Maine, graduating in medicine June 4, 1879, and received the degree of M. D. He spent nine months in the general hospital at Portland, Maine, acquiring an invaluable experience, and he is to-day one of the best educated physicians in Dakota. In Septem- ber, 1879, he came to Caledonia, Traill county, North Dakota, where he has since followed his profession. He holds the first license (No. 1) granted to a physician to practice medicine in Dakota. He has been very successful in his practice both in a pro- fessional and a financial sense, and now owns a comfortable property, besides possessing - the most complete set of surgical instruments

in North Dakota. He is a prominent factor in all matters which affect the welfare of Caledonia or vicinity. He is an honored member of the Odd-Fellows fraternity, was a charter member and was the first noble grand of the Caledonia Lodge, and has filled various other offices in that organization. He has been a member and surgeon of the board of health for a number of years, and is a representative man in every sense of the word.

Dr. Cleveland was married at Anson, Som- erset county, Maine, January 5, 1878, to Miss Sarah G. Pinkhanı, a daughter of Hon. N. and Nancy (Marsh) Pinkham, who were natives of New Hampshire. Her father was a leading politician, and represented his county for several terms in the Maine legis- lature. He cameto Dakota with our subject and died here. The Dr. and Mrs. Cleveland are the parents of one son - Willie Elmore, born May 8, 1881.

Mrs. Cleveland is engaged in raising and breeding Shetland ponies, and has a nice herd of these beautiful little animals. She has one pony which took the second prize at the Chicago State fair, and five of her ponies are registered animals. The doctor is fre- quently seen on the road with a "four-in- hand " team of the little roadsters, and it requires more than an ordinary team to " throw dust in their faces" as the familiar saying goes. It will be of interest to state that Dr. Cleveland is a relative of Prof. Cleveland of the college from which he graduated.

EORGE N. BIRD, the present post_ master at Clitherall, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is one of the most promi- nent business men of that locality. He was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, on the 18th of May, 1854, and is a son of Amos and Maria (Strong) Bird, both of whom were natives of New York State. The father

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RED RIVER VALLEY AND

removed to Wisconsin in 1849 and settled in Walworth county, where he was one of the pioneers and where George was born. When our subject was about thirteen years old the family removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, where the parents still reside.

George N. Bird remained at home, helping his father on the farm and attending school until he was about twenty-one years old. At that time he learned the millwright trade and also of elevator building. For seven months he worked while he remained at home and then went to Elgin, Illinois, where he followed the same kind of work until the latter part of 1876. He then went to Winona, Minnesota, and for three years worked in various towns, going as far west as Tracy, Minnesota. He then went to Minneapolis and followed mill- wrighting and elevator work for two years, then came up the Northern Pacific Railway and for two years was employed by the Northern Pacific Elevator Company. In the spring of 1884, in company with C. B. Wheeler, he bought the building in which the post- office at Clitherall is now located. They improved the building, raised and enlarged it, making it some thirty feet longer and opened a complete hardware store. They continued the business in partnership until May, 1888, when it was dissolved and Mr. Bird carried on the business alone until December, 1888, when he traded the stock for a farm, but still owns the building. On the first of December, 1888, he was appointed post- master by President Cleveland, notwithstand- ing the fact that he is a stanch republican. This will indicate his standing in the com- munity. He is a capable business man and a man of strict integrity. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and takes an active interest in public affairs, being at this writing a member of the school board.

Mr. Bird was married February 14, 1885, to Miss Edna Keyes, and they have one child -Clement.

RANK B. SIMMONS, editor and pro- prietor of the Long Prairie Leader, is one of the leading citizens of Todd county, Minnesota, and one of the best-known news- paper men in the northern part of the State. Mr. Simmons was born in Morrison county, Minnesota, January 18, 1859, and is a son of Dr. J. O. Simmons. The latter was born in Westfield, Medina county, Ohio, January 12, 1821, and was the son of Jonathan Simmons. Dr. Simmons came to Little Falls, Minne- sota, in 1856, being one of the pioneer set- tlers of that locality. He still lives there. The mother of our subject was Harriette H. (Lee) Simmons, a native of Ontario county, New York, and a daughter of Amos Lee. She died in 1869, being at that time forty- seven years of age. Dr. Simmons and wife were the parents of eight children, seven boys and one girl, five of whom are now living, as follows-Mary Jane, who married A. Tanner, a merchant and pioneer of Little Falls, and one of the leading men of that vicinity ; Jonathan, a merchant of Little Falls, where he has been a very prominent man in public affairs, having represented his district in the State senate from 1878 to 1882 ; Charles G., formerly of Long Prairie and now a resident of Little Falls; W. L., of Minneapolis, and our subject. Dr. Sim- mons was also a pioneer of Bismarck, North Dakota, having located there in 1872, but afterwards returned to Little Falls. He still owns a quarter section of land adjoining the plat of Bismarck.

Frank B. Simmons, whose name heads our present article, received his education princi- pally at Little Falls, Minnesota, completing it, however, with a ten months' course at the Jefferson School. In 1874 he went to Bis- marck, Dakota, and remained for a short time on the home farm with his parents.

In the spring of 1876 he went to Ontario county, New York, where for five years he clerked in a general store at Allen's Hill. In

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July, 1880, he returned to Minnesota and engaged in the printing business at Little Falls as a job printer in the Transcript office. In 1881, with W. M. Fuller, he pur- chased the Little Falls Transcript. In June, 1883, he sold out his interests there, and in November of the same year came to Long Prairie and at once established the Leader, which he has since conducted. The paper has an extensive circulation and has a powerful influence in local affairs. Mr. Simmons is an able writer, and a man of wide reading and excellent business ability. He is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity and is an active participant in all moves calculated to advance the interests of his home.

Mr. Simmons was married July 13, 1884, to Miss Emily C. Lee, a native of Swan River, Morrison county, Minnesota, and a daughter of Samuel Lee, one of the pioneers of that locality.

EORGE E. DOBELL, proprietor of the cigar factory and wholesale and retail tobacco store at Grand Forks; North Dakota, is rapidly attaining an excellent reputation in his line, and has already secured an extensive and lucrative business.

Mr. Dobell was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, October. 27, 1862, and is a son of Thomas C. and Mary (Winegar) Dobell, who were natives, respectively, of England and New York State. When our subject was about eighteen months old his parents re- moved to Independence, Iowa. There he grew to manhood and received his education, attending school until he was about eighteen years old. He then went to Elgin and worked in the woolen mills at that place for about two years. At the expiration of that time he again returned to Inde-

pendence. where he learned the cigar- maker's trade and worked for a little over two years. He then went to Marion, Iowa, where he was employed at his trade for about six months. We next find him at Vinton, Iowa, where he, in com- pany with his brother, E. L. Dobell, opened a cigar factory and tobacco store, carrying on a wholesale and retail trade. They con- tinued in business together for about three years, when our subject sold his interest to his brother and removed to Grand Forks, arriving there in the fall of 1885. Here he formed a partnership with his brother, J. H. Dobell, and they opened a cigar . factory. The partnership was continued until June, 1887, when George E. bought out his brother's interest and has since been carrying on the business alone. On the 1st of Jan- uary, 1888, he commenced carrying on a a wholesale and retail tobacco business in connection with his factory, keeping an excellent stock of domestic and imported goods and has met with well-merited success. He also has an interesting museum in con- nection, such as Indian relics, bows, arrows, pipes, guns, pistols, war clubs, etc., together with a large collection of old and odd coins. His Indian collection was secured from the Indians.

The factory turns out as fine an article of cigars as can be found in the Northwest, and his home patronage attests the fact that they are appreciated. Mr. Dobell is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Grand Forks.

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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 97

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