USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 55
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eventful years. His name, however, will not per- ish, nor his virtues be forgotten. In the first Territorial Legislature, he represented the district embracing the voting precincts of Sank Rapids and Crow Wing, and when the present county of Morrison was set off, the Legislature nained it in honor of this esteemed veteran pioneer.
JOHN McNAUGHTON, foreman in the blacksmitlı shop of the Northern Pacific Railroad, at this point, was born in Genesee county, New York, in the year 1839. In 1848, he removed to Michigan with his parents, where he learned the blacksmith trade, and remained until 1866. He then went to Chicago, and two years later, to Duluth, where he was employed four years by the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad Company, and since then, has worked for his present employers.
HENRY MONLE is a native of Germany, born in the year 1849. He came to America with the family in 1851, who settled in Chicago. At the age of fourteen years, he went to Leland, Illinois, and learned telegraphy with the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad Company, remaining there two years. He was then with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company two years and a half, after which he attended school one term, then returned to his old employers and remained until 1872. lle then went to Hannibal, Missouri, and after eighteen months service with the Missouri, Kansas, & Texas Railroad Company, returned to the Chicago & Northwestern, and in 1878, came to Brainerd, in the employ of the Northern Pacitic Railroad Company. He is now Chief of the Train Dispatcher's department.
JOHN N. NEVERS is a native of New Brunswick, and came to Brainerd in 1872. Six months after his arrival he engaged in the humber business, conlinning it for four years. flo then formed a partnership with B. F. Hartley und kept the Le- land Honse for one year, sinee which time he has been in the mercantile business. He carries a stock of abont $13,000, consisting of clothing and furnishing goods, and also carries on a mer- chant tailoring department.
Ezna NORTHFIELD was born in England in the year 1844. When he was five years old, the family came to America and setlled in Milwaukee, Wis- consin. In 1863, the subject of this sketch came to Minnesota, and after a residence of ten years in Lake City, came to Burnhamsville, Todd county. lle had n mail contract from the latter place to St. Joseph, Slearns county, but returned to Lake
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
City in 1874, and was engaged in farming for about two years. Ho again came to Burnhams- ville, and has lived at that place and Brainerd ever since. While a resident of the former place, he was Postmaster and Town Clerk. He came to Brainerd in the spring of 1881, with the in- tention of making this place his permanent home.
JOHN O'NEILL dates his birth in Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 11th of July, 1827. He learned the trade of stone-cutter when young, followed the business for a member of years, and was afterward employed on the Ohio and Missis- sippi river boats. He came to Minnesota in 1872, and after living in Lake City, Mankato, and Red Wing, came to Brainerd in 1877, and has lived here ever since. Hle is the present proprietor of the saloon known as " The Last Turn," in front of which still stands the pine tree on which the two Indians were hung in 1872, for the murder of Miss McArthur.
PETER ORT was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in the year 1849. He came to Brainerd in 1870, and was employed at the carpenter trade for five years. Was then clerk in the "Headquarters Hotel" until January, 1880, when he opened a billiard hall on the corner of Fifth and Laurel streets, of which he is now the proprietor.
ALEXANDER ORR was born in New Brunswick, in the year 1850. He learned the trade of ear- penter and joiner in his native country, which has been his occupation through life. In 1879, he came to Brainerd and engaged in contracting and building. In April, 1881, William E. Scelye be- came a partner, and they are now doing a profit- able business, employing an average of ten men.
W. A. PARSONS, M. D., is a native of Worthington, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and was born on the 31st of March, 1857. He prepared for college, and gradnated at Harvard on the 30th of June, 1880. After a few months practice at Athol, Massachusetts, he came to Brainerd, arriving in March, 1881, and has since been in the active prac- tice of his profession.
GEORGE R. PERLEY dates his birth in Michi- gan, on the 19th of March, 1848. When a child,; the family came to Lake City, Minnesota, where the subject of this brief sketch was reared on a Tarm. In 1867, he went to Wyandotte City, Kun- was, and learned the carriage maker's trade, rovid- ing there until 1873. Then emme to Minnesota, und after fiving on n farm in Todd county for four years, came to Brainerd; was employed at
his trade until the spring of 1881, since which time he has conducted business on his own ac- count.
REUBEN H. PAINE was born in Victory, Cayuga conuty, New York, on the 27th of November, 1846. At the age of eighteen years he went to MeHenry county, Illinois, and after a residence of four years there, came to Lake City, Minnesota, and was farm- ing there for two years. His next move was to Long Prairie, Todd county, where he conducted the grocery business until 1872, when he came to Brainerd, and after six years of active business, went to Little Falls and engaged in the mercantile business, but returned again to Brainerd after one year. He then formed a partnership with his brother, K. S. Paine, and J. C. Flynn, the firm being known as Paine Brothers & Flynn, wholesale and retail dealers in live stock and dressed meats.
JOHN C. ROSSER, M. D., was born at Lynchburg, Virginia, on the 2d of December, 1840. After taking the usual preparatory course he entered the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1867. Prior to his graduation he had served four years in the army during the civil war, in the Twenty-eighth Texas Volun- teers, two years as hospital steward, and two years as assistant surgeon. Returning from college he settled in his native town, where he practiced his profession until coming to Brainerd in 1871, and still continues in active practice. He has held the office of Coroner since 1873, and is highly re- spected in the neighborhood.
GEORGE H. STRATTON is a native of Chester, Maine, born in the year 1835. When he was fif- teen years old, he became engaged with his father in the hotel business, continuing until twenty-one years of age, when he became proprietor of the Five Island House, in the town of Winn, Penob- scot county. In 1861, he enlisted in the Eleventh Maine Volunteer Infantry, as a private, but was soon after promoted to Second Lientenant, but discharged on account of ill health, after one year's service. Returning to Maine he again engaged in the hotel business, in connection with hunbering, carrying on the same until 1865, when he entered the employ of Henry Poore & Son, who had an extensive tan-yard in the town of Winn. In 1874, he removed to Michigan, and was in the lumber business until 1879, when he came to Brainerd, and after conducting the lumber business about a year, formed n partnership with Charles L. Heath.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
They are now the popular proprietors of the Leland Honse.
SYLVESTER V. R. SHERWOOD was born in Con- neefient in the year 1822. He grow to manhood in New England, and in 1870, came to Minnesota, und was employed in the construction department of the Northern Pacific Railroad. He rim the second regular train for that company, and acted as conductor until December, 1872. He then en- gaged in the drng business for a time, but subse- quently changed to books and stationery, and smokers' supplies, in which line he still continues.
WILLIAM P. SPALDING is a native of Lowell, Massachusetts, and was born on the 1st of Novem- ber, 1823. He was reared on a farm, and when twenty-seven years of age was employed as con- ductor on the Rutland & Washington Railroad, where he continned until 1861; when he enlisted in the Fifth Vermont Infantry, holding the offices of Lieutenant and Captain, and serving thrce years. In 1865, he went to Illinois and was farming for five years. He came to Minnesota in 1870, and went to work in the construction department of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and was the conductor of the first train over that road. This was a special from Duluth to Brainerd on the 11th of March, 1871; he also run the first regular train in September of the same year. He run the first regular train on their line from St. Paul, on the 1st of November, 1877, and was condnetor until April, 1881. when the company were pleased to re- ward his faithful services by tendering him the appointment of claim agent.
GEORGE STEVENSON was born in Canada in the year 1853. When a boy he commenced working in a store, and on arriving at maturity, engaged in mercantile business on his own account. He came to Brainerd in the spring of 1881, and pur- chased the grocery and provision business of Mr. Hartley, which he still prosperously continnes.
W. A. SMITH is a native of Franklin county, New York, where he was reared until eighteen years of age, when he went to Syraense and at- tended school for some time. He was then em ployed as clerk in various mercantile houses mitil September, 1874, when he enme to Brainerd and entered the employ of Mr. Bly, and became a partner the following spring. H. A. Campbell purchased the interest of Mr. Bly soon after, and the business was conducted by Smith & Campbell until March, 1880, when Mr. Campbell retired from the firm. Subsequently, Mr. Smith formed
a partnership with W. E. Campbell, under the firm name of H. A. Smith & Co. Their business is quite extensive, carrying a stock of $20,000, und employing four salesmen.
WILLIAM E. Suriye dates his birth at St. George, New Brunswick, on the 22d of July, 1847. When a child, the family came to Minnesota, and after remaining in Minneapolis one year, went to Anoka. William resided with his parents nutil fifteen years of age, when he enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving three years. He returned to Anoka and learned the carpenter trade, which he followed in that vicinity until 1879, and removed to Gull River, where he carried on a door, sash, and blind factory until the spring of 1881. He then came to Brainerd and formed a partnership with Alexander Orr, the company doing a general business as contractors and builders.
DANIEL D. SMITH was born in Franklin county, New York in 1848. He went to Boston, Massa- chusetts, in 1869, and was engaged in the grocery business there for ten years. Then came to Brain- erd and established a business in the same line, which he is now condueting ..
DAVID E. SLIPP is a native of New Brunswick, and was reared on a farm in his native province. He came to Brainerd in 1871, and carried on a grocery business till June 1880, when he opened a hardware store, and is still in the business.
FRED J. SLIPP is also a native of New Bruns- wick, and is a brother of the subject of our last sketch. He came to Brainerd in 1879, and was engaged in the grocery business until the spring of 1881; but since then, has been with his brother in the hardware business.
FRANK B. THOMPSON dates his birth in Portland. Maine, in the year 1852. He came to Minnesota in 1869, and after a stay of six months in Duluth, engaged in the construction department of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and was afterward in the land department until the re- moval of that office to St. Paul, in 1880. Mr. Thompson has been a resident of Brainerd since 1873; six years of the time he was Register of Deeds of Crow Wing county, and since 1880, has hield the office of County Auditor.
SETH C. TENNIS is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in the year 1826. At the age of seventeen years he was employed in a grocery store in Philadelphia, remaining there for eight years. He then came to Minnesota, and was agent
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
for the town-site company at Wabasha for some time, but subsequently engaged in farming, and in 1864, obtained the position of mail agent on tho Mississippi river steamboats. In 1870, he went to Duluth, aud was employed by the Imko Superior and Mississippi Railroad Company Is book-keeper in the supply department of the Du- luth division. Ho was afterwards employed as Station Agent at the Northern Pacilie Junction, and in 1872, eame to Brainerd and was book- keeper in a mercantile establishment for one year; after which he earried on a farm until 1879, and has since been in the employ of the Northern Pa- cifie Railroad Company, as time-keeper. Mr. Tennis resides across the river in Cass eonnty, at and during the period of that county's organiz- ation, was Register of Deeds and Treasurer.
Louis TAenE, telegraph operator at the shops of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, was born . in Canada in 1857. He came to Minnesota in 1876, and after remaining a few months in St. Paul, went to the Northern Pacific Junction in the employ of the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad Company, and thence to Rush City, and in April, 1881, came to Brainerd and was installed in his present position.
EDWARD WHITE was born in Pomfret, Connec- tient, on the 4th of April, 1812. He learned the carpenter trade in his native town, and at the age of twenty years, went to Worcester, Massachusetts, and engaged in building for four years. He then went to Tazwell county, Illinois, which was his home until 1860, when he came to Minnesota. He lived at Glencoe three years, and then went to Franconia, on the St. Croix river, whero he was Postmaster five years. He came to Brainerd in July, 1870, and was in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company for several years. Ile is now carrying on the business of contractor and builder, his son Isaac being a partner.
GEN. LYMAN P. Wurre is appropriately denom- inated the " Father of Brainerd," by its inhabit- ants; while the Indians throughont this entire re- gion call him the " Big White Father." He is a mun of a powerful frame, six feet high, broad shoulders, corpulent, and of a remarkably fine physique. Born in Whiting, Vermont, in 1811, and one of a family of eleven children. His father was a revolutionary soldier, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. Soon after peace was de- clared he became one of the earliest settlers of Ver- mont, affer whom Whiting was named. Gen.
White's early advantages were only equal to the majority of New England's sons of that day; but his natural ability, quick perception, and sound Common sense placed him in the foremost runks in business or political circles. fle soon became a leader in his State. For several years he was a member of the State Legislature, and at various times declined important positions offered him by the United States Government, choosing rather a business than a politieal life. He has been mar- ried twiee; first to Phebe Keeler, who had six children, now grown to manhood and womanhood; after her deeease, to Jennie Knight, who eame with him, the first white woman, to Brainerd. They have one daughter, Miss Jennie, who for two years was the only white ehild in the place, and until old enough to be sent east to boarding schools, was taught by her mother when a governess could not be obtained. Gen. White came to Chieago in 1859, entering largely into business there, and in the year 1870 eame to Brainerd as the general agent of the Lake Superior and Puget Sound Com- pany, with Thomas Canfield as president, which position he still retains. He laid out the townsites of Brainerd and the other places on the Northern Pacific Railroad, and is more closely identified with this locality than any other man. He has always been a friend to tho poor, and especially adapted to the building up of this growing country; full of sympathy, ready to aid with a liberal hand, and wise in counsel to those who are seeking homes in the Northwest. He lives in the confidence and esteem of communities extending for hundreds of iniles westward.
His beautiful and spacious residence in Brainerd was the first frame dwelling house in the place; the wing built at that time is now his office. The lumber was drawn by teams, u distance of seventy miles, about one year and six months prior to the completion of the railroad to this point. Their first Christmas dinner in this house was an event- l'ul one. Distinguished guests were present, con- sisting mostly of the eastern capitalists interested in the construction of the railroad. At great trouble and expense, turkeys, chickens, oysters, and ull delicacies that easteru markets ufforded had been seenred for the occasion. Mrs. White, the esteemed hostess, had spared no paius in preparing the menu in the most tempting manner. Whenready, she left the dining room for a few moments, and returned escorting the guests, when fo her amaze- ment, found that during her absence, the Indians,
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AITKIN COUNTY.
who had skulked about the premises, had improved this favorable opportunity, and cleared the table of its contents. It can be bettor imagined than do- seribed, the feelings of ull interested, as they were waiting while another dinner was prepared con- sisting of bacon, hominy, and wild rice. General White has been very successful in the management of the Indians, never armed and never suffering mmoyances from them, sove their petty thieving. During the time he was Mayor of Brainerd, he had an ordinance passed, that all Indians found within the eity limits after dark should be locked up within a building prepared for that purpose, and the people were freed from the night prowlings and hideous whoops that would have otherwise disturbed their slumbers. General and Mrs. White have done much toward moulding the christian sen- timent of the place, he being a leader in the Epis- copal church, and she entering into the work with
carnestness and almost single handed, until now a flourishing society and an imposing church edifice stands as a monument to their labors. Their house hus ever been a home of hospitality, and from their larder has charity been generously dispensed.
EUGENE M. WESTFALL, ticket and freight agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad at this point, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 1st of De- comber, 1848. When a child, his parents re- moved to Hannibal, where he was engaged with his father in the lumber business until twenty- one years of age. He then entered the employ of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad Company, as clerk in the construction department. He eame to Brainerd in July, 1874, and has been in the employ of this company ever since; first as clerk in the office of the master mechanic, and then in the superintendent's office, coming to his present position in June, 1881.
AITKIN COUNTY.
CHAPTER CLIT.
DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY SETTLEMENT-ORGANIZATION VILLAGE OF AITKIN-BIOGRAPHICAL. -
Aitkin is situated in the north central part of Minnesota, embracing an area of abont two thou- sand square aeres, only a small part of which is yet under cultivation.
The Mississippi river flows through the north- western part, along which are rich bottom lands covering a belt of about two miles in width, in which is found a heavy growth of hard wood timber. Elsewhere the surface is gently rolling, the north half covered with a dense growth of pine, while in the south half is pine, bass wood, sugar maple, and other hard woods. -
The soil is elay and black loam, with an abun- dance of excellent .wild meadow. In the central part are ridges, on which are found poplar and white birch, while intervening are fine tamarack swamps.
Besides the Mississippi, the principal streams are, Willow, Tamarac, Rice, Moose, Hill, Pine, and
Snake rivers, the last two of which are in the sontheastern part, the others in the central and northern part. Mille Laes lake covers about one hundred and cight scetions in the southwestern part, lying partly in this and partly in Mille Lacs county. Several smaller lakes are found sonth of the center, while north of the center is Sandy lake, one of the most historic localities in North- ern Minnesota.
Although the present settlement of this county is of comparatively recent date, its first occupancy by white mon ante-dates that of many of the most populous counties in the State. . Sandy lake was visited by white men, and a trading post estab- lished there by the Northwest Company in 1794. Captain Zebulon Montgomery Pike, the first Amer- ican officer who visited Minnesota in an official eapaeity, was at this lake in September, 1805. Governor Cass, and others were here in 1819, William Morrison being then in charge of the post. A school was opened here by Rev. Sher- man Hall, in 1832, through the solicitation of Mr. Aitkin, for the benefit of the children of voy-
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
ageurs and a few traders. All this, however, passed away, and the county remained unsettled until the survey of the Northern Pacific railroad.
On the 13th of September, 1870, Nathaniel Tibbetts, then with the surveying party, selected a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in sections twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five, and twenty- six, to which he brought his family on the 8th of May, 1871. A few others came in Angust, among whom were, J. W. Tibbetts, Warren Potter, Rich- ard Mills, George Jenkins, and William Wade, be- sides a few transient laborers engaged in the con- struction of the railroad. The road reached this point on the 23d of February, 1871, then halted eighteen days for the completion of a cut near by.
In 1872, the county of Aitkin was organized, und an election held on the 30th of July, at which the following officers were chosen: County Commis- sioners, N. Tibbetts, Chairman, William Hallstram and William Wade; Register of Deeds, William Hallstram; Auditor, R. E. Cowell; Attorney, D. C. Preston; Sheriff, James W. Tibbetts; Treasurer, George Clapp; and Coroner, N. Tibbetts. At a meet- . ing of the Board,on the 18th of September, J. H. Van Nett was appointed Justice of the Peace. By a clerical error, or fault in publishing, the books and official documents of the county were printed " Aitken." Although the name adopted was " Aitkin," in honor of Robert Aitkin, a trader and resident of Sandy Lake, in the early part of the present century.
The village of Aitkin is on the Northern Pacific railroad, where Mr. Tibbetts first settled, as al- ready mentioned. It is pleasantly located on, and near the mouth of Ripple creek, so called by the settlers on account of its clear, rippling waters. By some means the Indian name for this stream was interpreted Mud creek, which, however, is ignored by the villagers. Near the present vil- lago is an old town site, platted in 1856, and called Ojibway. Its proprietors created quite a furore in eastern localities, sold shares for fabulous priees, but like other ventures of the kind it soon col- lapsed, never having even a building.
The present village is under an ordinary town- ship government, organized in 1873, with the fol- lowing officers, elected on the 19th of Angust: Supervisors, Nathaniel Tibbetts, Chairman, James W. Tibbetts, and Solomon S. Clapp; Clerk, W. H. Williams; Treasurer, George N. Clapp; Assessor, John E. Cronse; Justices of the Peace, James H. Van Nett and W. HI. Williams; Coustables, Simon
Weaver and George Falconer; and Overseer, Geo. Jenkins.
When the railroad reached this point, n station was established, and a depot building erected in the autunm of 1872, also a water tank, section house, freight house, and an engine house 40x80 feet, which burned the next year and was never rebuilt. In the fall of 1872, Richard Mills opened the first store in the place, in the old claim shanty of Na- thaniel Tibbetts. The next year Mr. Tibbetts opened a store, which he conducted about eighteen months, then sold to Clapp & Son. Another store building was erected in the fall of 1873, but used the first year as a saloon by George Jenkins, then by Peak & Wakefield, as an Indian trading post, then as a general store by Knox & Whipple, then Knox Brothers; Knox Brothers & Richardson; Knox Brothers & Dorman, and now (D. J.) Knox & Dorman. The firm are now doing a business amounting to $200,000 annually, carrying a stock of about $40,000. Warren Potter has a store, do- ing about $75,000 business annually besides his flouring mill, which has a capacity of one hun- dred barrels in ten hours. In the mill he has a partner, D. Willard.
There are three hotels, three saloons, two black- smith shops, and one meat market.
The first hotel was built by Nathaniel Tibbetts, the first year of his residenee here, and was called the Ojibway House. The next year he bnilt u larger house, of howed logs, sided and lathed and plastered inside. The next hotel was opened in May, 1875, by Mrs. Nellie Whipple, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere. This house burned in 1879, and in the February following, Mrs. Whipple opened another, called the Whipple House, which she still conducts. In November, 1880, John Crosley, opened the Crosley Honse, which has been under the management of Joseph Wakefield since the spring of 1881. The Mam- moth Hotel was opened in December, 1880, by C. H. Douglas, under whose management it has since been a popular home for travelers.
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