USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 5
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of the State Association of Farmers Mutual Insurance Compa- nies. Active in religious work, he is president of the Redwood County Sunday School Association. His business holdings, in addition to stock in these various associations and companies, include stock in the State Bank of Redwood Falls, of which he is one of the directors, and in the Redwood Falls Keystone Silo Company, of which he is president and an active moving factor. An independent thinker, he has always chosen the course which he has believed to be right, regardless of political parties. He has been a candidate for a seat in the lower house of the Minne- sota state legislature, has served the township as assessor for two years, and has been school clerk of his district for eight years. All in all, Mr. Stewart is a useful citizen and it may truly be said that the agricultural and social conditions of Redwood county have been bettered by his devoted efforts. Mr. Stewart was married Feb. 22, 1894, to Anna McNair, who was born Sept. 16, 1866, daughter of Robert and Anna (Grenleese) McNair, the former of whom was born in Scotland, Dec. 12, 1827, came to America in 1847, lived in Ohio until 1850, moved to Illinois, was there married in 1860 and there died Sept. 23, 1901, and the latter of whom was born April 10, 1833, and died June 23, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have three children: Helen, Wallace and Douglas. Helen was born Oct. 30, 1895, and is now a student at Carlton College at Northfield, this state. Wallace was born June 2, 1898, was graduated from the Redwood Falls high school June 4, 1915, and is now attending the Carlton College. Douglas was born Nov. 26, 1903, and is doing splendidly in his studies in the school district which his father attended so many years ago.
Albert J. White was born in Marshall county, Iowa, Oct. 27, 1872, son of George B. and Eliza (Griffin) White. George B. White was for twenty-five years engaged in school work in cen- tral Iowa, being at one time the principal of Spring Creek Insti- tute, near Oskaloosa, Iowa, which he assisted in developing into what is now Penn College, Oskaloosa, Iowa. He afterward en- tered the ministry of the Friends' church, remaining in this work until he retired, moving to Faribault, Minnesota, where he died in 1895, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife died in 1913 at the age of seventy-eight years. Albert J. White spent one year at Le Grand Academy, Le Grand, Iowa, and graduated from New Providence Academy, New Providence, Iowa, in 1889. After working for one year on a farm he attended school at Penn College, afterward teaching school for four years in Rice county, Minnesota. He then removed to Estherville, Iowa, to become manager of a large stock farm, where he began the raising of pure-bred Galloway cattle, developing a fine herd under the firm' name of E. H. White & Bro. Under his management these cattle'
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MR. AND MRS. HOLDRIDGE ADSIT
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were exhibited at the leading state fairs, the American Royal Shows at Kansas City, the International Live Stock Shows at Chicago, and at the St. Louis World's Fair. A large percentage of prizes were awarded to these cattle, and at one time this herd numbered nearly two hundred head. Pure-bred Percheron horses, Shropshire sheep and Shetland ponies were also handled at the same time under his management. In the spring of 1908 he sold out and came to Redwood Falls, Minnesota, where he has since remained, doing real estate business. He has been secretary of the Commercial Club since Jan. 1, 1914, and secretary of the Automobile Club since Jan. 1, 1913. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., of which he is now district deputy grand master; also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of which he is venerable consul. Mr. White was married Oct. 2, 1895, to Laura E. Nichols, born July 22, 1872, daughter of George M. Nichols, a farmer of Rice county, Minnesota, who died in 1889, and Sarah (Lowe) Nichols. Mr. and Mrs. White have two chil- dren: Eva M., born July 18, 1896, a graduate of the Mankato State Normal School, and Ethel B., born February 13, 1900. The family united with the Methodist Episcopal church in Redwood Falls, Mr. White from the Friends' Church of Honey Creek, Iowa, and Mrs. White from the Congregational church of Fari- bault, Minnesota.
Rev. Joseph J. Tomek, pastor of the Church of St. Catherine (Roman Catholic), at Redwood Falls, Minn., was born at Veseli, Rice county, Minnesota, Dec. 25, 1882. He was educated at St. John's University, Collegeville, Minn., and St. Thomas College, St. Paul, Minnesota, being graduated from the latter institution in June, 1901. The same year he entered the Seminary of St. Paul, St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained to the priesthood on the 12th of June, 1907. He was assistant at the Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul, Minnesota, for three years until August, 1910. He was then appointed resident pastor of Redwood Falls parish, where he is still serving. During his pastorate a fine new church edifice has been erected, which is one of the best church buildings in this part of the state, and which was dedicated in Novem- ber, 1915.
Holdridge Adsit, now deceased, for many years an honored and respected citizen of Redwood county, was born at Sand Lake, in Dutchess county, New York, June 22, 1823, the son of John and Olive (Emmons) Adsit, substantial residents of that state. He was reared to farm pursuits, receiving a thorough education in the district schools of his neighborhood. Some years after his marriage he decided to seek for his family the wider opportunities of the newer West, and accordingly moved to Wisconsin, where he became a representative farmer of Man- chester township, in Green Lake county. It was in 1890 that
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he came to Redwood county and located in Kintire township, on a farm he had purchased in 1885. Here he set at work with the same energy that had characterized his efforts in New York and Wisconsin. His long experience enabled him to direct his efforts along the most efficient lines, and his labor brought him success and prosperity. By judicious purchases he acquired different tracts of land until he owned 640 acres in section 28 and 160 acres in section 27. After a useful life, filled with hard work and worthy endeavor, he retired on Sept. 12, 1904, to Belview, where he died Nov. 19, 1904, sincerely mourned by all who knew him. Mr. Adsit was married Nov. 17, 1846, to Jane Ann Wilson, born June 19, 1823, and died Jan. 28, 1868. The following children were born to this marriage: Stanford W., born Jan. 1, 1849, became a carpenter at Belview, Minnesota, and married Dec. 7, 1873, Ina Child. They have three boys and two girls, one of whom, a son, Frank, of Minneapolis, is the inventor of the Adsit Telephone Lock Out, for use on party lines. Rosalie, born July 10, 1851, married Chauncey Childs, July 23, 1872, and they had three girls and one boy. Mr. Childs died Aug. 23, 1879, and his widow, November, 1883, married William Gamble, a farmer near Waupun, Wis. Martha J., born Oct. 11, 1852, was married, Jan. 22, 1874, to Eugene Leatherman, a pioneer in Redwood county, now farming in California, and they have one boy and two girls. Wilson J., born Sept. 19, 1858, a dentist of Indiana Harbor, Ind., was married April 27, 1885, to Ellen Folsom, and they have three boys and one girl. Edith, born Aug. 2, 1860, was married Jan. 1, 1880, to Horace Straight, a dentist of Markesan, Wis., and they have two boys and one girl. Grant E., manufacturer of the Adsit Telephone Lock Out at Minneapolis, was born May 11, 1864, and was married Nov. 22, 1885, to Lizzie Rickell. Holdridge Adsit was married a second time in Wisconsin, June 14, 1868, to Deborah Tickner, born Sept. 24, 1847, daughter of David Tickner, a farmer in New York, and his wife, Diantha (Pierce) Tickner. By the second marriage there were the following children: Hol- dridge, commonly known as "Deck," was born April 27, 1869, lives with his mother in Redwood Falls, and devotes his life to farming. Cora is also with her mother at Redwood Falls. She is one of the successful teachers of Redwood county. John H., born Oct. 2, 1881, is living at Minatare, Nebraska. Amy, born May 19, 1885, was married to Lyle Peterson, a farmer of Red- wood county, Aug. 10, 1905, and they have four boys. Mabel, born October, 1888, is at home. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Daniel L. Orimmins, auctioneer and land dealer, was born in Sterling, Mass., May 6, 1870, son of Daniel L. Crimmins. The father was born in the north of Ireland and came to America and engaged in the stock business until his death in 1900 at the
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age of seventy-eight years. The mother, Mary (Hart) Crimmins, died in 1905 at the age of eighty-five years. Daniel L. Crimmins remained at home until he was seventeen years of age. Then he engaged in the meat business in St. Paul and after two years became buyer of cattle for Swift & Co., in Chicago. Three years were spent in this work and three years in the produce business in Gaylord, Minnesota, where his property burned. Then he moved to Morton, Minnesota, where he was auctioneer and land dealer for four years, after which he engaged in the mercantile business in Olivia. In 1905 he came to Redwood county. He now owns 2,400 acres of land in Redwood county and feeds cattle and swine for the market. He "cries" large sales in Redwood, Renville, Brown, and Yellow Medicine counties, as well as other counties, and also deals extensively in land through this region, having many large farms on his list and a large number of well- satisfied customers. Fraternally, Mr. Crimmins is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and has held all of the chairs. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Crimmins was married Jan. 1, 1896, to Charlotte Colt, born April 17, 1870. Three chil- dren have been born to them: Ella, Sept. 21, 1900; Gladys, May 25, 1904, and Charlotte, Dec. 3, 1905.
George W. Clark, a retired farmer of Redwood Falls, was born in Bethany, Michigan, March 26, 1858, son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Rooks) Clark. The father was born in Scott, Cort- land county, New York, and came to Michigan in 1857, where he farmed until 1868. Then he homesteaded in Redwood county in the northwest quarter of section 24, Sheridan township, and lived there until 1888, when he retired from farming and moved to Redwood Falls, where he died Jan. 11, 1890, at the age of sixty-eight years. The mother died in 1887 at the age of sixty- six years. George W. Clark remained at home assisting his father until 1887. Then after working as a miller in St. Louis, Michigan, for one year, he came back to Minnesota and took charge of his father's homestead. In 1890 he bought the northeast quarter of section 23, Sheridan township, and in 1893 moved onto it, remain- ing there until 1914. He now resides with Robert Moorhead. Besides being a farmer, he is also a carpenter and has been engaged as a thresher every season since 1892. He has served as township supervisor of Sheridan township and as director of the school board of district No. 46. Mr. Clark was married May 14, 1885, to Belle Fields, who died Sept. 18, 1893, at the age of twenty- eight years, leaving the following children: Lisle, born May 7, 1887, who assists his father, and Grace, born May 18, 1892, now Mrs. Harry Wahl, of Oakland, California.
William G. M. Smith, one of the successful young insurance men of Redwood Falls, was born in Thurso, Scotland, Aug. 3, 1883. The father, Alexander Milne, brought his family to America
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in 1885 and lived at Redwood Falls for ten years. Then he went to Butte City, Montana, where he engaged in the carpenter trade, afterward locating in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1915. The mother died in 1886 at the age of thirty-eight years. In 1888 William G. Milne was adopted by Isabella Smith, of Redwood Falls, and he was given the surname of Smith. He attended the public schools of Redwood Falls and graduated from the high school in 1907. He then accepted the position of city recorder and at the same time entered the insurance business. During 1911 and 1912 he was partner with W. R. Barnes, under the name of Barnes & Smith, in the insurance and land business. Jan. 1, 1913, he bought Mr. Barnes' share and incorporated as The William M. Smith Company. The company does a general insurance business, and has been successful in conducting an important district agency for the N. W. Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee. Mr. Smith is a director of the First National Bank of Redwood Falls. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and secretary of the Commandery. Mr. Smith was married July 12, 1913, to Rose Hunter, who is the daughter of N. V. R. Hunter, a pioneer insur- ance man of Redwood county, who died in 1912 at the age of forty-five years. His wife, Laura E. (Belt) Hunter, is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one child, Margaret Ruth, born Nov. 3, 1914.
Frederick W. Zander, cashier of the First National Bank of Redwood Falls, was born in Olmsted county, Minnesota, Oct. 12, 1881, son of Otto and Ida (Beyer) Zander. The father was born Oct. 25, 1859, in Germany and came to America in 1869 with his parents. He became a farmer and remained in Olmsted county until 1907, when he went to California and died there in Novem- ber, 1911. The mother was married a second time in 1913 to John Pommerenke, a retired farmer, who lived at Long Beach, California. Frederick W. Zander remained at home until he was twenty years of age, and then began working in Cook's Hotel at Rochester, Minnesota, where he remained one and a half years. The next five years were spent at Plainview, Minnesota, as clerk, cashier and bookkeeper in a general merchandise store. - Then he became assistant cashier in the Clark County National Bank, Clark county, South Dakota, for the next five years. Six months were spent as cashier of the Farmers' Bank at Garden City, South Dakota, and then he became assistant cashier of the People's State Bank at Bradley, South Dakota. March 7, 1913, he became assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Red- wood Falls, was appointed cashier the following year, and still retains that position. Mr. Zander was married Dec. 25, 1912, to Tryphena E. Heubach, born Sept. 1, 1888, at St. Charles, Minnesota. She was a trained nurse and a graduate of the Winona Training School for Nurses. They have one child, a
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REDWOOD COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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THOMAS HOSKEN AND FAMILY
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son, Erwin F., born April 17, 1914. They are members of the Presbyterian church.
Thomas Hosken, agriculturist, producer, man-of-affairs and village executive, is not only one of the leading citizens of North Redwood, but is likewise at the head of the county's most impor- tant manufacturing enterprise. Living on the old J. S. G. Hon- ner homestead, he has developed that place into one of the best farms in the county, he has exploited an extensive granite indus- try and has helped to make North Redwood one of the thriving little business centers of the county. Thomas Hosken was born in Cornwall, England, March 20, 1863, coming of the long line of sturdy forebears. John Hosken, the father of Thomas, was a stonecutter. He married Mary Bone and came to America in 1867, subsequently working for many years in the quarries at Niantic, Connecticut. After a long and useful life, he died in 1909 at the age of seventy-three, his good wife having died in 1900 at the age of sixty-nine. Thomas Hosken was reared in England and was taught his father's trade as a stonecutter. He did not accompany the family to America, but continued to work in England until 1878, when he joined his parents in Connecticut. After extensive experience in various quarries of the Eastern States, he came to Minnesota in 1886 as a stonecutter for the Frasier Stone Company at St. Cloud. As an employe of this company he came to North Redwood in 1887, and from a granite deposit on the old Honner homestead quarried the monument which now marks the last resting place of the pioneer, J. S. G. Honner, in the Redwood Falls cemetery. In this employ he remained until 1897, when he and Fred Honner took charge of the quarry in partnership. In 1897 Mr. Hosken bought out his partner's interest and has since continued the business. Outside of the agricultural activities of Redwood county, and the occupa- tions incident thereto, Mr. Hosken has the most important indus- try in the county. He employs a number of men, quarries and finishes all kinds of building and monumental stone and ships his products extensively to adjoining counties and to the Twin Cities. In 1901 Mr. Hosken purchased from Howard Honner the sla J. S. G. Honner farm, which is one of the old landmarks of the upper Minnesota Valley. Situated on the north bank of the beautiful Minnesota and south of the village of North Redwood (which village is located on a part of the original homestead), the farm is a most sightly one. Its location makes it particularly well adapted to corn raising, and taking advantage of this fact, Mr. Hosken raises about 100 acres of that product each year, specializing in Minnesota No. 13, the seed of which is eagerly sought by the farmers throughout a wide area. He tests every bushel before selling and his customers are assured of the best in the market. In 1913 and 1914, Mr. Hosken took the first prizes
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for corn at the Redwood county fair and in 1915 was awarded second prize. He has also taken other awards at many other fairs and corn shows. In 1915 he made eight entries at the famous Steele county fair at Owatonna and out of the eight entries brought home six prizes. In addition to his quarrying and corn raising, Mr. Hosken is widely known for his interest in blooded poultry. He has thoroughbred buff leghorns, black minorcas and brown leghorns, to all of which he has given the utmost care. He likewise has a large flock of bronze turkeys and Toulouse geese. He has exhibited fowls at many exhibitions and has brought away many prizes. Through interest in the civic progress of the county, Mr. Hosken has done much for the village of North Redwood, of which he has served as president for the last eleven years. His services on the town board, of which he has been a member ten years and chairman six years, have been highly valued, Mr. Hosken was married July 7, 1888, to Mary Schwin- furter, who was born in Germany, Feb. 14, 1867, daughter of Joseph Schwinfurter, her family being the pioneer family of Beaver Falls, Renville county. Mr. and Mrs. Hosken have been blessed with five children: William, Mary, Anna, Margaret, and Thomas. William was born Oct. 25, 1889, and married Esther Suelter. Like his father before him, he is an energetic business man and is managing the Farmers Elevator at North Redwood. Mary was born Dec. 20, 1890; Anna, July 11, 1893; Margaret, April 7, 1899, and Thomas, Jr., Oct. 11, 1905.
William Preston Rice, a well-known contractor of Redwood Falls, was born in Martinsburg, Iowa, Sept. 3, 1875. The father, Joseph Rice, was born in Indiana and was a traveling salesman of Lincoln, Nebraska, and died in 1887 at the age of thirty-nine years. The mother, Mary (Reynolds) Rice, is now Mrs. John McCurry, of Lincoln, Nebraska. William Preston Rice remained at home until sixteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter trade and after engaging in that work for a few years, in July, 1900, went to Franklin, Minnesota, where he worked two years for Carson Brothers. Then he began contract work on his own responsibility. In September, 1910, he moved to Redwood Falls, where he has since maintained his headquarters. Since coming to Redwood county he has erected over three hundred buildings. He assisted in building the Redwood Falls Armory. His home, now being erected in a location overlooking beautiful Lake Red- wood, has a valuation of some $4,500, and will be one of the pleasant residences of the city. Mr. Rice's fraternal affiliations are with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Rice was united in marriage to Luella Biggs, April 2, 1895. She was born Nov. 29, 1874, and is the daughter of Thomas Biggs, a retired farmer of Plata, Missouri, and his wife Mary (Hampton) Biggs. Mr. Biggs served four years in Company H, Second Divi-
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sion, 123rd Indiana Infantry, and spent nine months in Ander- sonville. He came to Iowa in 1866, locating near Keokuk, and moved to Missouri in 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have the following children: Bernard, born Feb. 22, 1896, who graduated from the Redwood high school, June 4, 1915; Violet, born Aug. 1, 1898; Evelyn, born Aug. 20, 1905, and Wilma, born Oct. 24, 1910. Bernard works with his father. He was married May 11, 1916.
Jay L. Knapp, of Redwood Falls, manager of the Redwood office of The Straus Brothers Company, real estate dealers, was born in Cromwell, Indiana, Nov. 27, 1886, son of W. B. Knapp and his wife, Zilla (Neal) Knapp. His father was a farmer in Cromwell and an active member of the Christian church, espe- ially devoting much of his time to the Sunday school work, being president of the County and Township Sunday-school conventions and local Sunday-school superintendent for thirty-five years. Jay L. Knapp left his home in 1904 and became chauffeur for the Strauss Brothers Land Company at Adrian, Mich. After three years with them at that place he was employed by them in the same capacity at Lisbon, North Dakota. In 1909 he became one of their land salesmen and for a year continued in this position at Lisbon, next coming to Redwood Falls, in July, 1910, to have the same position here. After two years he became manager of the local office, which is in the. C. D. Thompson Building, just west of the Armory on Second street. He is doing excellent work for his company, and has proved a most excellent salesman. He is especially well informed as to land values and farm prop- erty not only in this region but throughout the Northwest. Mr. Knapp was married Dec. 19, 1911, to Ida Billing, born April 18, 1888, daughter of Ernest and Mary (Bach) Billing. Her father is a farmer in Lisbon, North Dakota, owning 2,500 acres of land, and has lived there twenty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have one child, Harriet Louise, born May 8, 1916.
William Rosendahl, an implement dealer of Redwood Falls, was born in Sweden, Feb. 24, 1873, son of Jens N. and Elsie Rosendahl. Jens N. Rosendahl came to America in 1892, locating in Delhi, Redwood county, where he engaged as a blacksmith until 1909, when he retired from active work. He now makes his home with his son William, his wife having died in 1880 at the age of forty. William Rosendahl came to America in 1894, locating at Delhi, and secured work on the farms in the neighbor- hood for three years. Then he enlisted in the Third United States Infantry and served eleven months, part of the time at Tampa, Florida, and part of the time in the campaign against the Indians at Leech Lake, Minn. After his discharge for dis- ability he moved to Echo, Minnesota, where he worked at the blacksmith trade. Later he came to Redwood Falls and bought an interest in the shop of J. E. Moon. A year later he bought
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out Mr. Moon and operated the shop for three and a half years more. He then sold and went west for about eight months. Upon his return he started an omnibus and transfer line, which he soon sold. In 1911, after having again been engaged at the black- smith trade for a while, he entered the implement and automobile business with C. D. Thompson. In 1913 he bought Mr. Thomp- son's interest and is now the sole proprietor. The same year he erected a brick building, 30 by 120 feet, with a full basement. Mr. Rosendahl was married June 22, 1905, to Laura M. Baker, daughter of Henry C. Baker, a retired farmer of Redwood county, and his wife, Mary (Brown) Baker.
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Charles Fleischer, the second oldest settler in North Redwood, was born in Saxony, Germany, Jan. 22, 1848, son of A. W. and Dorothy E. (Winkel) Fleischer. The father came to America in 1850 with his family and located at Plymouth, Wisconsin. There he engaged in farming until 1868, when he removed to North Redwood and died in 1896 at the age of eighty-five years. Charles Fleischer left his home at the age of fourteen to learn the miller's trade, which he followed until 1880. He then became grain buyer and flour salesman for a mill in Appleton, Wis. In 1882, on one of his trips to Redwood county, he bought eighty acres of land in section 29, Honner township, locating there in 1883. The pres- ent village of North Redwood is located on the site of this farm. Mr. Fleischer now owns considerable real estate, including 400 acres of land, the building which he erected for the Security State Bank, and a number of other buildings, all in North Red- wood. In 1910 he began raising Holstein cattle and carried on dairying. He had 32 head of cattle, of which 20 were registered, all of them being of the Hengeveld stock. Mr. Fleischer was the first mayor of North Redwood, serving one year. He has served as township clerk for 24 years and also as justice of the peace for 24 years. For three years he was chairman of the township board. He was also local manager of the H. E. Walker Lumber Com- pany for 12 years and for four years was owner of the North Redwood mill. He now lives retired at North Redwood. Mr. Fleischer was married in 1869 to Delia Duncan, who died in 1900 at the age of 50. He was married a second time, Dec. 25, 1901, to Addie Stevens, born in Rich Valley, Dakota county, April 20, 1868, and by this marriage there is one child, William, born Ang. 6, 1904.
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