The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 54

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Renville County Pioneer Association
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 986

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Benjamin F. Benson, of the Benson-Newhouse-Stabeek Grain Commission Co., Room 809, Chamber of Commerce Building, Minneapolis, is one of the Renville county boys, born of Renville county pioneers, who have gone out in the world, far from their native county, and won for themselves a place in the world's activities. Ile was born on the homestead in Emmet township, son of the Hon. David Benson, and his good wife, Carrie Benson. He attended the old log schoolhouse with whose interesting history his father was so intimately connected, and later studied in the public schools of Renville. It was in 1895 that he left home and started out for himself as collection man in the law firm of Lockerby & Cady, at Forman, North Dakota. Subsequently he returned to Renville, and was employed in the collection depart- ment of the first National Bank as well as in the store of J. H. Dale & Co. In 1898, when patriotic fervor was stirring so many of the youths of the land, he elisted as a private in Co. 11, 14th Minn. Vol. Inf. He was sent with his regiment first to Chieka- manga, then to Knoxville, Tennessee, and then back to St. Paul, being promoted successively to corporal and sergeant. For a time he continued his former employment at Renville. In 1899 he was appointed by Gov. John Lind as deputy grain inspector, and thereupon moved to Minneapolis. Some two years later he went on the road traveling for various grain commission firms. For a time he was associated with the Way, Johnson, Lee Co., grain commission merchants of Minneapolis ; later the Loomis-Benson Co. was formed with Mr. Benson as vice-president, and later the Gold-Stabeek Loan and Credit Co. bought out the Loomis inter-

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ests and the firm became the Benson-Newhouse-Stabeck Grain Commission Co. Of this concern, which is one of the leading grain commission concerns of the Northwest, Mr. Benson is still the vice-president. The company has branch offices in Duluth, Winnipeg and Chicago, and does a tremendous business. When the Grain Commission Merchants Association was organized, in the year 1911, Mr. Benson became its first president, a position in which he served with much eredit and dignity. llis standing in the business world is shown by the faet that he is one of the board of directors of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the membership committee of that board. Likewise he is a member of the Minneapolis Athletic Club. True to the staunch religious training of his early years, he has interested himself in church and uplift work. In the Minneapolis Y. M. C. A. he is a member of the board of directors. In the Wesley Methodist Episcopal church he is a member of the official board. a member of the finance committee and the teacher of the Young Men's Bible class of some ninety pupils. Fraternally he is associated with the Renville Lodge of A. F. & A. M. and Renville Camp, No. 145. Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Benson was married January 27, 1906, to Elsie Irene Turner, and they have two chil- dren: Bruce Hoyt, born May 28, 1908; and Robert Wesley, born April 25, 1914. The family residence is at 2008 Emerson avenue, south.

James O'Connor, Sr. The story of a penniless Irish immigrant, who in early youth was doomed to total blindness, and who, in spite of this great handicap, achieved, assisted by his heroie wife, a fair measure of success and reared a large family of sons and daughters who have made their mark in the world's work, is a most interesting one, and is distinctive even in this land of op- portunity where so many penniless youths achieve fame and for- tune. And the story of the wife, a callow Norwegian immigrant, who worked by her husband's side, identified herself thoroughly with the people of his nationality, and aside from attending so efficiently to the physical wants of her family, found time to instill in her children's minds the staunchest of principles and the highest of ideals, is no less interesting.

James O'Connor, Sr., was born in Ireland in 1804. At the age of sixteen, when Ireland was in the throes of a great famine. he set out for America hoping to better his condition and hoping also to be able to contribute toward the support of his parents. Landing on Canadian soil he worked on the Wellington canal, then erossing into the United States, he later became a laborer on railroad and canal construction work, working on the first railroad constructed in the United States, and while laboring in this capacity saw pioneer life in various parts of the country. At the age of twenty-two years, while employed on a large construe-

MRS. ELIZABETH O'CONNOR

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC NINGARY

TILDEN BINDATIONS

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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY

tion contract at Indianapolis, Indiana, he was stricken with a bilious fever. His physical strength was in time recovered, but his eyesight was totally destroyed. Thus overtaken by so dire a misfortune in the prime of his youth, he returned to Ireland, hoping that in the land of his birth he might once more be per- mitted to look upon the light of day. But his hopes were blasted, for his condition did not improve. So he returned to America where he remained for about two years. Then. again thinking his sight would be restored by crossing the salt water he returned the second time to Ireland. But finally being convinced that his affliction was permanent he courageously determined to adjust himself to his new circumstances and to make the most of the faculties still left him. With a young nephew, Patrick Malone, to lead him about, he came again to America, and for many years traveled from place to place with a small pack, selling goods in many a hamlet and isolated neighborhood in the middle west as well as in the more populous states of the east. One of his regular selling points was a settlement at Ferry. in Dane county, Wisconsin. There, in 1853, he called at a house with his pack and met his greatest happiness. Elizabeth Erickson, a young Nor- wegian girl who had come to America at the age of 18, was greatly attracted to the witty blind Irish peddler, and after a short courtship, they were married March 16, 1851. From Perry the young couple went to Stoughton. Wis., where they boarded the train for Milwaukee. At Milwaukee they were met by a friend who took them by ox team to Erin, in Washington county. in the same state. Erin was entirely an Irish-Catholic settlement. The young Norwegian girl learned Gaelic before she learned English, and when she finally learned the language of her adopted country it was with the rich accents of her husband's comitrymen that she spoke it. Living thus among the kindly lrish people. she was converted to the Catholic religion, and in the faith of that church she and her husband were remarried. this time by the Rev. Father Tierney, their first marriage having been by a justice of the peace. For several years, Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor conducted a store at Erin. In 1857 they sold ont. and went back to Dane county, where Mrs. O'Connor had formerly lived. and where Mr. O'Connor had acquired a farm. They broke seven acres of this farm and for nine years lived in a dug-out. As the years passed Mr. O'Connor overcame many of the handicaps of his blindness. By following the sound of the man in front of him he could mow as well as a man with sight. He was an expert rail splitter and could work alone all day long at this ocenpa- tion, not only splitting the logs into rails, but also building fences with the rails thus manufactured. Ile was also an adept at many other branches of farming. In 1866 the family started overland for Winnebago county, Iowa, a distance of some eight hundred

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miles. A book of this journey might well be written, the blind father, the energetic mother, and the seven children, the oldest ten years old and the youngest (Timothy, now a prominent man of Renville county, and his twin sister, Eliza), four weeks old, form the elements for many dramatic incidents. Arriving at the end of their journey, the family purchased a tract of timberland known as Benson's grove. There they built a log cabin 12 by 14 feet and there the family lived under the most primitive conditions. James O'Connor, Sr., died there in April, 1879, and is buried in the Catholic cemetery at Bristol, in Worth county. lowa. Though he raised a family of seven sons and five daugh- ters, he never saw his wife or one of the children. The welfare of his family was ever his first interest and his life was one of usefulness and cheer. Elizabeth Svenbalrud (Erickson) O'Con- nor, his wife, was born in Hadland. Parish of Lenner, Norway and came to America in 1846, settling in Perry, Dane county, Wis- consin. She was the daughter of Erick and Mary Erickson, who died in Norway. All the children came to America in 1851. They were Mary. Erick, Panl and Sarah. Mary and Paul settled in Renville county, Mary married John Roste, of Sacred Heart. She and her husband are both dead. Mrs. O'Connor was the youngest of the children. She came to Renville county after the death of her husband, and is now living in the city of Renville at the good old age of eighty-seven. . The children of Mr. and Mrs. James ('Connor, Sr., were: James, John, Edward, Michael Timothy, William, Abe, Mary, Eliza, Anna (deceased), Amma and Elfen.

James O'Connor, a leading citizen of Granite Falls, is a former resident of, and still an extensive land owner in, Renville county. While his actual residence in this county was of comparatively short duration he has continued actively identified with its lead- ing financial activities for considerably over thirty years. James O'Connor is called in his family, James the second, his father and his oldest son and his grandson, all bearing the name of James. The story of his parents is appropriately told elsewhere in this work. The subject of this mention was born in Washington county, Wisconsin, April 22, 1856, and spent the greater part of his boyhood in Benson's Grove, Winnebago county, Iowa. April 24, 1880, he arrived in Renville county with his brother Timothy. For two years he was in business with several of his brothers in Sacred Heart village. Then for ten years he was in business in Granite Falls. During this period he also did considerable farm- ing, and at the end of the ten years became an extensive buyer of farm lands, operating in Chippewa, Yellow Medicine and Ren- ville counties. He now owns nearly 2,500 acres of land. most of it being within a radins of fifty miles from Granite Falls. For five years, he made his home on a farm in Hazel Run township,

JAMES O'CONNOR

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

HENRY NORMAN STABECK

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Yellow Medieine county, but with that exception he has lived in the village of Granite Falls since first taking up his residence there. Ile has one of the best places in the village, picturesquely located on the east bank of the Minnesota river and commanding a most beautiful variety of landscape. Here, surrounded on all sides by the home comforts in which his soul delights he is reap- ing the rewards of his life of hard work and self-denial. Mr. O'Connor is noted for the liberal support he has aecorded all publie improvements and his private benefactions have been many. He has taken an active interest in everything that has tended to the betterment and progress of the community, and while he has made a practice of refraining from accepting political office, he has given most admirable service for two years as one of the councilmen of Granite Falls. Mr. O'Connor was married June 22, 1881, to Tena Nelson, who was born July 28. 1861, daughter of Nels' Nelson Jethus, and died February 22, 1909. On November 27. 1911, Mr. O'Connor married Belle Anthony, born in Yellow Medicine county, February 17. 1878, a daughter of Edward and Bessie (Olson) Anthony. Mr. O'Con- nor has five children : James, Luvina, Alfred, Thomas and Myrtle. James (the third) was born June 13, 1882, married Lena Enger, and has three children, Arda, Myrtle and Evelyn. Luvina was born December 23, 1884, married Alfred Emmerson, and has three children, Carolina, Elien and Jane. Alfred was born Angust 29, 1886, and died June 11, 1910. Thomas was born July 2, 1888, mar- ried Ella Anthony, and has one son, James (the fourth). Myrtle was born November 15, 1891. Nels Nelson Jethus was born in Norway and came to America in 1840. From Filhnore county, this state, he came to Chippewa county in 1866. and located on a farm near Minnesota Falls where he spent the remainder of his life. His good wide, Ellen, died in Seattle, in 1915.

Edward Anthony was born in Adams county, Wisconsin, and married Bessie Olson, who was born in Norway. In 1872 he came to Yellow Medicine county, and farmed in Hazel Run township until his death in 1889. His devoted wife died there in 1882. They had two daughters. Tena is the wife of James O'Connor (the second) ; and Selma is the wife of H. N. Wilson, who farms in Hazel Run township.

Henry Norman Stabeck, for several years actively identified with the financial, business and social life of Renville county, is now one of the dominant figures in the financial stability of the Northwest. His finacial and grain interests are large and in the upbuilding of these interests he has been an important factor in the development of several agricultural and grain raising dis- triets, especially in Minnesota, North Dakota and western Canada. He comes of middle-west pioneer stoek, having been born in Davis, Illinois, March 26, 1875, son of Thurston and Torgen

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(Patterson) Stabeck, natives respectively of Davis and Durand, Illinois. He attended the high school of Freeport, IN., the Davis Union School, in his native town ; and graduated in 1893. It was that year that he came to Renville and became bookkeeper in the Security Bank. From 1895 until 1902 he was its cashier. In 1902 he became president and retained that office in the First National Bank of Renville which replaced the Seenrity Bank, January 17, 1903, being, it is said, the youngest national bank president in the United States at that time. In the years that fol- lowed his personal interests increased in size and importance and in 1907 he resigned his bank position. In the meantime, in 1902, the Gold-Stabeek Loan & Credit Co. had been organized. and for several years a large loan and land business was conducted in Renville. But it grew to such proportions that in 1907 the offices were moved to the Minneapolis building of the Northwest- ern Fire & Marine Insurance Co., of which company Mr. Stabeck had become vice-president. Of the Gold-Stabeck Loan & Credit ('o,. Mr. Stabeek is president. The firm does an extensive busi- ness in commercial paper, bonds, mortgages and the like, being one of the largest concerns of its kind in the Twin Cities. In con- nection with its other activities it controls a line of banks in Illinois and North Dakota. Mr. Stabeck is also president of the Benson, New house, Stabeek Co., of Minneapolis, Duluth, Winni- peg and Chicago, a grain commission company which does the largest grain business in the Northwest. He is vice-president of the Anchor Elevator Co., of Moose Jaw, Canada, controlling a large line of elevators along the line of the Canadian Pacific rail- road in the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic and Woodmen orders. Of the Interlochen Club he was the first president, and he is also a member of the Minneapolis club, the Minikhda club and the Minneapolis Automobile club. When he turns from his busy labors, Mr. Stabeck finds his recreation in outdoor life. He enjoys golf and trap shooting, and has probably done more big game hunting than any other business man in Minnesota. Mr. Stabeck was married April 5, 1899, to lennie Alice Carey, daughter of Frank and Alice (Gunderson) Carey, and they have two sons, Vincent Franeis Thurston, born July 1, 1901, and Max- well Norman, born August 23, 1903, both of whom are attending the Blake School, at Minneapolis.

Frank O. Gold, now deceased, banker, grainman, and philan- thropist, exerted a notable influence on several generations of modern life in the Northwest, not only in establishing many busi- ness institutions and laying the foundation for many important ventures whose results were far reaching. but also finding the time in the course of a busy, useful life to devote to church, Sun- day school and charitable work. Combining as he did the

MR. AND MRS. FRANK O. GOLD

THE NEW! YO: -

PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOP, LEN IX AND ILDEN SANDATIONS

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shrewd, careful common sense and far-seeing intelligence of a sue- cessful business man, with the moral uprightness, quick sympathy and wide understanding of a devoted and warm-hearted Christian, his influence in church and business, in society and in finances, was beyond measure, and the great good which his life meant to his fellow men can never be adequately comprehended. Frank O. Gold was born in Easton, Pen., August 20, 1855, son of Aaron and Ellen (Cahoon) Gold, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York, and descended on the paternal side from German ancestry. While Frank O. was a boy, the family moved to Davis, Illinois, and there he completed his education and grew to man- hood. His first business venture was as a clerk in a general store in Davis. From there he went to lowa, and for a while engaged in the grain and milling business at Delmar. About 1878 he en- gaged in the manufacture of wire bed springs, establishing several factories in various parts of lowa. Some six years later he sold the patent rights and came to Minnesota, locating in Farmington, Dakota county, where he again engaged in the grain and milling business. It was in 1887 that he came to Renville county, and with his brother. William H. Gold, purchased a lumber yard at Sacred Heart. Some two and a half years later, a branch was established at Renville. To Renville, Frank O. Gold moved in 1890, while William HI. Gold remained in charge of the yard at Sacred Heart. Frank O. Gold continued in the lumber business for several years. Gradually he became interested in the land. loan and credit business, as well as in grain dealing. In this con- nection he worked more or less in conjunction with the Security State Bank. When that bank was reorganized as the First Na- tional Bank of Renville, JJanuary 17, 1903, he became vice-presi- dent, a position he occupied until 1907 when he became president. A year later, the bank was sold to the Dale interests. In the meantime, in 1902, the Gold-Stabeck Loan & Credit Co. was organized, and of this Frank O. Gold had been made the presi- dent. For several years a large loan and land business was con- dueted in Renville. But it grew to such proportions that in 1907 the offices were moved to the Minneapolis building of the North- western Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Frank O. Gold. however. remained with the bank in Renville for another year, and then in 1908 moved to Minneapolis and assumed the presidency of the Land & Credit Co. In that position he remained until his death. Mr. Gold was a man of sterling qualities and took a deep interest in every move that had for its objeet the betterment of humanity. Ile was just and upright in every walk of his day by day life, a loyal and helpful friend, and a devoted and loving father and husband. The Methodist church over found him an ardent sup- porter. In Renville he helped build the present Methodist Epis- copal church. In Minneapolis he was steward, trustee and Si.

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day school teacher in the Wesley Methodist Episcopal church until the time of his death. He was one of the most prominent lay delegates in the Minnesota conference of the Methodist Epis- copal church and in 1904 was sent as a lay delegate to the general conference at Los Angeles. He was also an official of the State Sunday school association. His benefactions to charitable and religious organizations were many. Mr. Gold was married July 20, 1884, to Elizabeth Nichol, who was born at Mareaills, Illinois, August 15, 1859, daughter of James Franklin and Harriet (Ileeox) Nichol, natives respectively of Ohio and Michigan, who as young people went to Illinois, and were there married, the father dying in Renville, Minn., in 1900, and the mother now making her home with her daughter. Mrs. Gold. Mr. and Mrs. Goll had three children : Roy Clinton, Roy Franklin and Minor Bidwell. Roy Clinton was born June 18, 1888 and died February 10, 1889. Roy Franklin was born May 5, 1890, and is now treasurer of the Gold- Stabeck Loan & Credit Co. Ile graduated from the Minneapolis West High school, attended the Hamiline University two years. and the University of Minnesota one year. He married Vera Locker, and they have one son, Frank Locker Gold. Minor Bid- well was born October 5, 1892, and is now with the Benson, New- house, Stabeck Co. He attended the Minneapolis West High school and the Hamline University.

Patrick H. Kirwan, who for many years exerted a powerful influenee on the life and destinies of Renville county, was born in Towanda, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1851. son of James and Mary (Blake) Kirwan, pioneers. He was taken as a child to Columbus, Columbia county, Wisconsin, attended the distriet and graded schools there, and took courses at the Way- land University at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. In 1874 he took up farming at Riceville, lowa. In 1875 he came to Brown county, Minnesota, and taught school there that winter. It was in 1876 that he located in Beaver Falls village. After teaching school four terms he engaged in the grocery business in that village. In September, 1878, he was appointed auditor of Renville county to fill a vacancy. At the next election the voters returned him to the position, and in that offiee he remained for twelve con- seentive years, with much credit to himself and greatly to the satisfaction of his constituents. That was the time when the political life of the county was at fever heat, and Mr. Kirwan was ever in the forefront in the numerous contests for political su- premaey. After he retired from office he moved to Olivia, and was associated with the O'Connor brothers in the organization of the Olivia State Bank, of which he became the eashier. In No- vember. 1895, when President Grover Cleveland appointed him U. S. Surveyor General for Minnesota, he resigned his position in the bank, greatly to the regret of his associates, and moved to

PATRICK H. KIRWAN

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR. LENOX AND HILDEN FOUNDATIONS

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY of

ASTOR TILDEN

LAIT'S AND WY NDATIONS

WILLIAM J. ASHLEY

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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY

St. Paul where he took up his new duties. In 1900 he retired from office, and devoted his time exclusively to the land business, in which for several years previous he had been more or less interested. He has offices at 201 New York Life Building, St. Paul. and is extensively engaged in the business of farm sales, loans and mortgages in Minnesota and North Dakota. Mr. Kir- wan still retains some of his interests in Renville county. He has developed and improved Prairie View Farm, his 520-aere place, six miles south of Olivia, in Henryville township, until it constitutes as good a farm as is to be found in the township. This farm, which he has owned for thirty years, he now rents. Ile also owns large tracts of land in Nelson county, North Da- kota. Some of this land he rents, but he and his son. James F., operate about 1,500 acres of it. Mr. Kirwan spending the larger part of his summers there. A specialty is made of raising Per- cheron horses and Shorthorn cattle from registered sires, and in addition a successful line of general farming is carried on. Some time ago, Mr. Kirwan, in order to better handle his North Dakota interests, organized the State Bank of Juanita, at Juanita. Foster county, North Dakota, of which he is president and prin- eipal owner. Patrick II. Kirwan was married July 20. 1875, to Mary E. Bridges, who died in St. Paul, September 24, 1896, leav- ing two sons, James F. and John HI. James F. was born at Otsego. Wisconsin. August 20, 1877. Hle is engaged with his father in farming in Nelson county, North Dakota. He married October 8. 1909. Anna Wilhelm, of Delano, Minnesota, and they have one son. James, born October 31. 1910. John H. was born in Beaver Falls. Minnesota, December 7, 1879, and is now cashier of the State Bank of Juanita, North Dakota. He married Julia Kelly. January 17. 1916. On February 4, 1901. Patrick H. Kir- wan married Anna B. Horgan, of Blue Earth, Minnesota. The family residenee is at 231 Arundel street, St. Paul.

William J. Ashley, mayor of Renville, and consequently the only city mayor in Renville county, is one of the leading citizens of the community. He has devoted the greater part of his life to the milling industry. Born in Lodi, Columbia county, Wiscon- sin, October 4. 1861, son of James W. and Laura (Narracong) Ashley, he was reared in Markesan. Wisconsin. At the age of seventeen, he went to Trout Run, near Black River Falls, Wis- consin. to learn the milling business from his uncle, Jonas Nar- raeong. Some three years later he joined his father at Fox Lake, Wiseonsin, and then returned to Markesan, the home of his boy- hood, and took charge of the mill for three years. He was then sneeessively employed as miller at Ettriek, Taylor Station. and North Bend, all in Wiseonsin. In the summer of 1888, he went to the pine region in the northern part of that state. It was in the fall of 1888 that he eame to Renville eounty and took charge of

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The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 54

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Renville County Pioneer Association Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago : H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co. Number of Pages: 986

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Renville County Pioneer Association
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 986