USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 49
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T. C. KINNE, a native of Norwich, Connecticut, was born on the 17th of September, 1847. In 1871, he graduated at the Hartford Theological Semi- nary, and moved to Wellsville, Kansas, where, for three years, he was pastor of the Congregational church of that place. He then came to Bellevue, Morrison county, and had charge of the Union elmirch of that placc. On account of poor health, Mr. Kinne was obliged to abandon the pulpit, and in 1880, came to Little Falls where he now resides.
JOHN. H. RHODES was born at Ithaca, New York, in 1846. When young he learned the drug busi- ness, at which he worked for a time in his native State. In 1871, he came to St. Cloud, Minnesota, and opened a drug store, which he continued till coming to Little Falls in 1877.
ALFRED F. STOREY is a native of Galion, Ohio, and was born on the 22d of November, 1853, and received his education at the Central College of Iberia, Ohio. He came to Minnesota in 1873, and a year later, located at Sauk Centre, where he read law with Miner and Barto, till the fall of 1876. At the latter date he removed to St. Cloud, com- pleted his studies in the office of Oscar Taylor, and was admitted to the Bar in July, 1877. He practiced in tlint place, with Mr. Taylor, till com- ing to Little Falls, in July, 1879. A few days after coming to this town, he was appointed County Attorney to fill a vacancy, and occupied the position till the elose of the term. In the fall of 1880, he was elected Judge of Probate, which position he still occupies.
JONATHAN SIMMONS was born on the 29th of March, 1851, at Medina county, Ohio. He came with his parents to this place in 1856, and in 1868, removed to Louisiana, remaining till about 1873. Then came to Little Falls, and since his residence here has been prominent in public life;
619
BIOGRAPHICAL.
was elected to the State Senate in 1878. Miss Charlotte Sparks, of St. Louis, Missouri, be- came his wife in the spring of 1873. They had one child, who died at the age of two years.
FRANK B. SIMMONS, a brother of Jonathan, was born at Little Falls, on the 18th of January, 1859. He attended school one year at Minneapolis, then learned the printer's trade in the " Transcript " office of this place, and now has a job office in the Post-office building. He is also Deputy Post- master.
ALLON G. STONE was born in Sturbridge, Mas- sachusetts, on the 13th of December, 1830. In early childhood he removed to Vermont, and in fall of 1870, to Iowa. Mr. Stone is a carpenter, and has worked at his trade for the last twenty years. He came to this place in 1879; has a resi- dence in the village, and owns a farm on sections twenty and twenty-one, near the village. Was married to Miss Sarah Hill on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1852. They have four .sons, one em- ployed on the farm, one at carpenter work, one in the employ of the Railroad Company, and one at school.
O. W. SYLVESTER was born in Waldo connty, Maine, on the 22d of April, 1837. He remained in his native State until nineteen yesrs of age, when he came to Minnesota and located in Mor- rison county. Was engaged in various pursuits until 1862, when he went to Crow Wing and was in mercantile business until 1867, when he returned to Morrison county, and has since re- sided in Little Falls. Mr. Sylvester was married in 1867, to Miss Ellen R. Gihan, daughter of Hon. David Gilman, of Watab. They have had three children, but one of whom, Oshea W., is living.
JOHN SHEA, a native of Northampton, New Brunswick, was born on the 22d of November, 1823. When abont twenty-eight years of age, he removed to Maine, and three years later, to Min- nesota. His first winter here was spent in the pinery, since which time he has devoted several years to the limber business. He purchased bis claim on seetion eighteen, of a half-breed, and entered it at the first land sale, at the usnal Gov- ernment price. The Chippewa Indians were numerous at that time, and sometimes very troublesome. Mrs. Shea is a lady very much inter- ested in educational, religions, and social matters. On the 21st of September, 1847, they were mar- ried at Woodstock, New Brunswick. They have
had nine children; four died in infancy, and five are living.
ABRAHAM ST. PIERRE was born on the 15th of December, 1855, in Canada. In 1878, he came here and joined his brother Tonssaent, who had been a resident of the State sinco 1864. They are equal shareholders in a tine farm on section twenty- eight. Toussaent was born in Canada on the 3d of October, 1848, and married in July, 1875, to Miss Philomon Roy, danghter of the late Hon. Peter Roy. 1
JONATHAN O. SIMMONS was born in Westfield, Medina county, Ohio, on the 12th of January, 1821. He remained on the farm till seventeen years old; then clerked in a store until twenty- one. For the fifteen years prior to coming to Little Falls, he was engaged in various occu- pations in his native State. He opened the first store at La Fayette, and was also engaged in the manufacture of flour, but principally devoted his time to live stock and the farm. In 1857, he came to this place, and for two and a half years was in the mercantile business, and one year in a hotel. Then, in 1861, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was in the employ of the United States Government for a year, thence to Louisiana, ro- maining for five years in the mercantile business. Revisiting Little Falls in 1867, he remained for two years, and then went to Bismarck and pre- empted land on which he lived for three years. He finally returned to Little Falls, where he has sinco beon practicing medicine. Mr. Simmons has also served as Justice of the Peace, Probate Judge, Connty Attorney, and Register of Deeds.
FRANK ISAIAH SCHLIEF was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, on the 31st of July, 1857. When he was about four years old, his parents moved to Minnesota, loeating in Rice county, where, they remained abont eighteen years. Mr. Schlief learned tho carpenter's trade, and for the greater portion of that time resided with his parents. In 1878, he came to Little Falls and purchased his present farm of two hundred and eighty acres, in section fourteen.
GEORGE L. STAPLES, deceased, a native of Maine, came to Minnesota in 1856. After spend- ing one winter in Stillwater, he removed to Kana- bee county, and was engaged in the Inmber busi- ness for several years. Mr. Staples founded the town of Brunswick, now the county seat of Kana- bee connty, naming it for the town in his native State. After moving from the latter place, he lo
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
cated at Elk River, and was engaged in the gen- eral mercantile business for about four years. Then removed to Monticello, where he followed the same business until his death on the 18th of December, 1869. He left a wife and six children; five boys, one of whom died about six months after his father, and one daughter, Mrs. William Tubbs, now deceased. His two sons, Tsaae E. and Sammel F',, were both born in Brunswick, Minne- soin.
Isaac E. was born on the 27th of April, 1859. He was married on the 27th of December, 1879, to Miss Minnie Chance, of Delano; they have one child, Cora May.
Samuel F. was also born in Brunswick, on the 19th of November, 1860. In February, 1881, the two brothers located in Little Falls, and are in partnership in the jewelry business.
JonN P. SMITH was born in the town of Rod- ney, Mississippi, in 1852. In 1863, the family eame to Clinton Falls, Minnesota, where John at- tended school four years. Then, moving to Owa- tonna, he was employed in a printing office for a year and a half. Returning to Mississippi, he was for two years engaged as overseer on a cotton plantation. In abont 1870, Mr. Smith came to Dodge county, Minnesota, and resided on a farm for two years, and then, for about six months, had charge of a hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. He then returned to Dodge county, and carried on a meat market for about two years. His next move was to Waterville, LeSuenr county, where he also conducted the meat business for a short time, and then came to Little Falls, where he has been engaged in the same line.
JAMES R. STEELE was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on the 30th of December, 1845. In 1854, the family came to Little Falls, where James lived until seventeen years of age. Then going to Leech Lake, be worked three years at the trading- post, thence to Grow Wing, in the same business, for four years. In 1869, he returned to Little Falls, and was in a meat market for a short time; then for a year and a half, in a hotel at Brainerd. Again coming to Little Falls, Mr. Steele pur- chased a farm just north of the village, working on it for five years. Since 1880, he has been em- ployed by J. Simmons in the merchandise busi- ness.
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ALFRED TANNER was born in Otsego county, New York, in 1840. When he was abont nine years of age, his father moved with his family to
St. Paul. In 1857, Mr. Tanner came to Little Falls, where he was engaged in the merealile business for some Twelve years. Then selling ont, ho purchased a farm, which he curried on for five yours. The your 1871, was spent in the hotel business at the same place, and from that time till 1879, he was employed as clerk in different houses. In the latter year, the firm of Simmons, Worthing- ton & Tanner was formed, which existed but one year. In 1881, Mr. Tanner purchased the general merchandise establishment of Leon Houde, which he still owns. The Post-office is here located, Mr. Tanner acting as Postmaster.
ANTON TEMBREULL was born in Westphalia, Germany, on the 17th of March, 1849. At the age of six years, he came with his parents to Mil- waukee county, Wisconsin. In 1861, he removed to St. Joseph, Stearns county, Minnesota, and in August, 1873, eame to this town, locating on the farm which has sinec been his home. On the 17th of June, 1873, he was married to Miss Mary Lan- ger, who has borne him four children.
JAMES M. THORNTON was born near Sherbroke, Canada, on the 12th of March, 1837. He was engaged in driving stage, and the freight business until 1858. He then enme to Wisconsin, and in 1861, to Minnesota. In September of the latter year, he enlisted in Company F, of the Second Minnesota Infantry, serving until July, 1865. He was wounded at the battles of Chickamauga, Ken- esaw Mountain, and at the burning of a bridge by our troops, on the Charleston and Savannah railroad. Was taken prisoner at Chickamauga, but paroled nine days later. On his return From the army he settled in Fillmore county. In 1878, he purchased a farm in this place and moved to it the following year. Mr. Thornton has been Dep- uty Sheriff for the past four years. In April, 1874, he was married to Miss Annie Collins, who has borne him two children.
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W. E. TRUAx is a native of Racine county, Wis- consin. He has for twelve years held responsible positions on the Northern Pacific Railroad, and since the 16th of Angust, 1881, has been Station Agent at Little Falls. Before his engagement with this road, he was on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern line.
LOUIS VASALY, a native of the Canton of Ticino, Italy, was born on the 14th of November, 1823. He graduated at the Ticino College at the age of twenty-one years, and also graduated nt the Col- lege of Pharmacy. Until 1863, he was engaged
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MOTLEY TOWNSHIP.
in a drug store in his native country. In the hut- ter year he came to Amerien, entered the Tenth United States Infantry and served as Hospital Steward, and afterwards as a private soldier. At the close of the term he was commissioned Post- trader and Postmaster at Fort Ripley, where he remained for two years. Then coming to this town he was for eight years in the drug business. In 1875, he bought the Vasaly House, which he rented for four years, and then took possession himself, and has since eondueted it. He was mar- ried in Italy, on the 15th of October, 1859, to Miss Franees Ribre. Of ten children, the result of this union, but seven are living.
LEWIS G. WORTHINGTON, a native of Pittsfield, Illinois, was born on the 9th of December, 1854. For a short time he was employed in mereantile establishments, and in 1875, eame to Little Falls. Here he went in partnership with Mr. J. Simmons, but severed his connection with the firmn a short time ago.
JOHN WETZEL, a native of Elgin, Illinois, was born in 1856. Soon after his birth, his parents moved to Chieago, and in 1866, eame to St. Cloud, where Mr. Wetzel was employed in a drug store. In 1876, the firm of Rhodes and Wetzel was formed, and two years later, their establish- ment at Little Falls was burned, but immediately rebuilt. In addition to their stoek of drugs, they keep a line of furnishing goods, boots, shoes, etc.
MOTLEY.
CHAPTER CXLVI.
DESCRIPTIVE ORGANIZATION-VILLAGE OF MOTLEY - - BIOGRAPHICAL.
Motley embraces all that portion of Morrison county west of the Mississippi river, lying north of township one hundred and thirty-one, and in- cludes an area of about one hundred and ten square miles, most of which is yet unimproved.
The surface is gently undulating, mostly tim- bered, and contains some excellent pine lands, as well as some of the best tracts of hard wood found in the county. Wild meadow and light brush almost prairie-make up the balance.
The soil is varied, presenting, on the uplands, the several grades of sandy loam, with ocensional tracts of clay loum. The few farms already opened
are sufficient to demonstrate the value of this see- tion as an agricultural district.
In the south central part is Imke Alexander, one of the finest sheets of water in the State. It is about six miles long, and from one to three miles in breadth. It has already attained some distinc- tion as a fishing ground, and the surrounding woodlands as excellent hunting ground. North- west of Lake Alexander is Fish Trap Lake, a smaller body of water, and north of this, another of moderate size, known as Black Bass Lake, but ealled by the Indians, Lost Alexander.
Crow Wing river forms the northern, and the Mississippi, the eastern boundary, which, with Fish Trap ereek in the west, furnishing an outlet to the first two lakes mentioned, affords ample drainage. With the exception of two or three settlers near Lake Alexander, the population of the township is confined to the village of Motley, to the location and growth of which is due the organization of the town. This town was formerly a part of Green Prairie, but was set apart in 1879, and organized in the spring of that year by the election of the fol- lowing officers: Supervisors, H. B. Morrison, Chairman, Frank Weston, and J. A. McMillen; Clerk, H. Hawkins; Assessor, J. R. McMillen; Treasurer, H. B. Morrison.
Motley station is in the extreme northwest cor- ner of the town, on the Northern Pacific railroad. This is the only point in Morrison county crossed by this line of road, and the station was estab- lished as soon as the road reached here, although no settlers were then within several miles of this point. The position was the most favorable of any for a distributing point for lumbermen's camp supplies, and was established for that purpose. A station and freight house were built, the former of which is still in use. The latter was removed to Aldrich about two years ago, and is now used as a passenger depot, and its place has been filled by a new and larger building. Grain was bought here soon after the station was established, being brought from a great distance and loaded into cars. The first elevator was built abont 1874, by Chandler, Fisher, and Waite, of Long Praire, who still own and operate it. Another was built by Barnes & McGill in the fall of 1879 and is still in operation.
The first depot agent here was T. J. Rothpletz, in 1871. He remained but a short time, and has been followed by two or three others previous to the present agent, Il. Hawkins, elsewhere men-
622
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
tioned. The buildings of the Railroad Company, in addition to those mentioned, are a seetion honse und water tank.
The village was platted by tho Lako Superior and Puget Sound Company, who still own the in- sold portion within the village limits.
The oldest settler here is Calvin Priestly, who came as employee of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in the fall of 1872. A few others eame within the next two years, but there was no exten- sive settlement or improvement until the arrival of H. B. Morrison, to whose energy Motley is chiefly indebted for its present growth and pros- perity.
A Post-office was established in 1874, and Wil- liam Johnson appointed Postmaster. He was suc- ceeded by J. A. MeMillen, the present incumbent, in April, 1879.
In the spring of 1878, H. B. Morrison built a lumber mill here, which furnished employment for quite a number of men, and was the means of in- dueing several families to settle here. During the summer, a school was opened for the benefit of tho few children then here, and Mrs. Frank Severance was employed as teacher, being paid by subserip- tion. The following year a school district was or- ganized, and a house built, mainly by subscription, and the school taught that year was supported by funds mostly obtained in the same manner. The house is still in use, but a new and more comino- dious one is in contemplation.
Early in 1879, Rev. S. A. Gnerut, a Methodist clergyman, commeneed preaching at Motley, and since the close of that year, weekly service has been maintained. A small class was also formed during the first year of Mr. Guerut's ministry.
In all matters effecting the growth of the place, Mr. Morrison has been a leader, and yet fortune has not always smiled upon his endenvors. llis first mill wus burned a few months after comple- tion, and with it perished one of the workmen who was sleeping in the building, and not awakened until too late. Mr- Morrison suffered heavily by this fire, but, nothing daunted, at once commenced the erection of a much larger mill which is now in operation. It is driven by steam, and has a daily capacity of over forty thousand, running ten hours, and has eut eighty-two thousand in a run of twen- ty-two hours. Lath, piekets, etc., are also manu- factured in large quantities, and a force of from seventy-tive to one hundred men are employed in and about the mill.
In May, 1881, Mr. Morrison opened a brick-yard, in which about twenty men are employed, and ex- pects to increase the business another season, em- ploying a much larger force.
About a mile from the village, another lumber mill was started in 1881, by Curtis & Lawrence. It is also a steam mill, with a daily capacity of twenty-five thousand, besides which lath and shingles are manufactured, employing about twen- ty-five men.
Motley has three good stores, two hotels, and is fairly supplied with shops and artisans, and from the wilderness of a few years ago has grown a village already numbering about three hundred, and with the surrounding country just developing its agricultural wealth, its continued prosperity is not a matter of doubt.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WALTER H. BENSON is a native of Stowe, Ver- mont, and was born on the 31st of March, 1853. When five years of age he came west with his pa- rents, locating in Minneapolis. The year follow- ing, they moved to Clearwater, Wright county, where the family now reside, Walter making his home with them until coming to this place in April, 1878. He has since been in the employ of H. B. Morrison, having the general supervision of his lumber yard at this place. On the 15th of April, 1875, he was married to Miss Viola Phil- lips, of Clearwater, who died in the same place on the 19th of June, 1880.
OWEN DAVIS, a native of Mercer county, Ohio, was born on the 18th of May, 1837. Resided there until the 2d of September, 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, of the Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In February, 1862, he was detailed, and some time after, transferred to the United States Signal Corps, serving three years. On receiving his discharge he returned to his for- mer home in Ohio, remaining till September, 1866. Then removed to Mason City, Iowa; was engaged one year at farming, and afterwards employed at his trade, that of carpenter and joiner. In De- eember, 1879, he came to his present farm, which is situated in Todd county, adjoining the village of Motley. He ilevotes the greater portion of his time to mechanical work. On the 17th of Novem- ber, 1864, he was married to Mary E. Stanberry, of Mercer county, Ohio. They have three chil- dren.
HENRY HAWKINS, the first Town Clerk, and also Station Agent nt Motley, is a native of Canada, his
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
birth dating on the 18th of February, 1851. He came to Minnesota in 1871, since which time he has been in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. For about fourteen months he was at New York Mills, and one month at Moorhead, from which latter place he came here in October, 1877. Was united in marriage with Miss Julia Walker, of New York Mills, in Novem- ber, 1877. Their union has been blessed with one child.
PETER KNUDSON is a son of Danish parents, and was born on the 12th of February, 1851, near the . city of Odense, on the Island of Tunen. At the age of fourteen years he left school and entered a mercantile house as elerk, and three years later, was employed in the general merchandise store of C. F. Bang, Consul of the Netherlands, as clerk and book-keeper. When nearly eighteen years old, he voluntarily entered the Danish army, serving fif- teen months, and rising to the rank of corporal. On leaving the army, he was engaged in the re- tail trade about one year, and came to America, in 1871. He arrived in Chicago on the 15th of June, and at once found employment with Budlong and Brother, as time-keeper. A year or two later, he removed to Mason City, Iowa, where he was employed as clerk and book-keeper by three of the leading business houses of that place. On the 15th of October, 1880, he came to Motley, where he has since been engaged as book-keeper by HI. B. Morrison. Mr. Knudsen was married to Miss Olive Houston, of Arena, Wisconsin, on the 29th of October, 1873.
HENRY B. MORRISON, to whose energy is due the actual development of Motley, is a native of Ver- mont, and was born on the 29th of November, 1843. Until 1850, the family lived at different points along the Vermont Central railrond, then removed to Cambridge, New York, where the fn- ther of our subject had contracted to build a ruil- road bridge neross the Hoosae river, at Eagle Bridge, after completing which the family returned to Vermont, stopping a short time at Waterbury. In July, 1851, they removed to Bedford, Indiana, the father still continuing in railroad bridge work. After a year in Indiana, most of which time the family suffered from fever and ague, Mr. Morrison, Sen., determined upon seeking a more congenial clime, and removed to Minnesota, arriving at St. Paul on the 2d of August, 1852, soon after which he purchased property in St. Anthony, and about a year later, removed to the west side, where he
bought a farm, now included in the city limits of Minneapolis. In 1861, the subject of our sketch removed to Clearwater, Wright county, where he remained till March, 1878, when he came to his present location, at Motley, Morrison county. The condition of the place at the time of his arrival, and the changes resulting from his enterprise, are mentioned in the history of the town. On the 9th of February, 1865, Mr. Morrison became a mem- ber of Clearwater Lodge No. 28, A. F. and A. M., and on the 29th of November, 1866, became a Royal Arch Mason, uniting with the Chapter at St. Cloud. His attention has been devoted to lum- bering since his removal to Clearwater in 1866, operating a steam saw mill there, from which he took the engine and machinery for his first mill at Motley. Miss Ida A. Benson, daughter of George B. Benson, of Clearwater, became the wife of Mr. Morrison, the marriage occurring on the 29thi of October, 1868.
S. A. McMILLEN is a native of Ohio, and his wife was born in Vermont. They removed to Iowa in its early days, and Mr. MeMillen owned a farm and also kept a trading post on the ground now occupied by Mason City. Twice they were driven to the necessity of flight during the Indian out- break of 1862, leaving everything to the mercy of the plunderers. They came to Motley, and in July, 1879, Mr. McMillen opened a general merchandise store; has a separate hardware department, in which is a tin-shop, operated by his son, Charles W., who was born in Mason City, on the 8th of March, 1858, and came here in Angust, 1880. He had previously worked at the tinner's trade for four years in Iowa and Nebraska, and is now do- ing a good business here.
DAVID J. WILSON, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, was born on the 26th of August, 1856. When seventeen years of age he came with his parents to Janesville, Minnesota. In 1879, he went to Mission Creek, Pine county, and was em- ployed one winter in a lumber mill at that place. In the spring of 1880, Mr. Wilson came to Mot- ley, and has since been engaged, first as sawyer, and later as setter, in the lumber mill of H. B. Morrison.
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