USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
EDWIN P. MARTIN was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, on the 8th of March, 1819. At the age of seventeen, he entered the University of that State, remained one year, and entered the Columbia College at Washington; after which he was in the Treasury Department, and later in the mereantile business in the same place. Returning to the University at Virginia, he graduated in 1841, and eame west, loeating at Newburg, Indi- ana; was general manager for the contractors of the Wabash and Erie canal, and two years later, removed to Park county, where he was engaged in general merchandise for a year und a half; and thence to Attiea, in the drug business till 1860. In the latter year he removed to Crawford county, Illinois; was Clerk of the Courts two years, and in 1862, enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Cavalry. Soon after, he was appointed Quartermaster's elerk, and on the 26th of December, 1862, pro- moted to Adjutant of the Regiment. In April, of the following year, he resigned, returned to Crawford county, Illinois, und was elected Provost Marshal of that county. On the 20th of Septem- ber, 1864, he went to Vicksburg, enlisted as n private in his old regiment, was at onee promoted to Second Lieutenant, and served till the surren-
695
BIOGRAPHIICAL.
der of Lee. Returning then to Illinois, he was engaged in farming till 1870, when he removed to Rawlins, the county seat of Carbon county, Wyoming Territory, and remained three years. While there, was elected Judge of Probate, Jis- tice of the Peace, and County Treasurer. In 1873, Mr. Martin came to Duluth and for two years was engaged in the grocery business, and was elected Village Justice, which position he still holds. On the 9th of February, 1850, Miss Amanda Elkins became his wife. Their children arc, Thomas V., Laura, and Frank.
JOSEPH MANNHEIM was born in Faribault, Steele county, Minnesota, on the 1st of January, 1859. When he was ten years old, his parents came to Duluth, and at the age of sixteen he was engaged as clerk in a hotel. In 1880, Mr. Mann- heim was elected to the office of Register of Deeds of St. Louis county, and still holds the po- sition. On the 25th of December, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth McKin- non. Their union has been blessed with two children; Margaret F., and Joseph E.
FRANK MCWHORTER is a native of Buffalo, New York. He came to Duluth in 1869, by way of the Lakes, bringing with him a stock of general merchandise, and started in business near where the nanal now is. A few months later he re- moved to Superior street, remained five years, and returned to his native place. In 1878, he again came to Duluth and has since made it his home.
JOHN McLEAN is a native of Canada, and came to the United States in 1866. He remained a short time in Chicago, thence to Marquette, where he worked at his trade (carpentering) until 1869. He then came to Duluth and has since been en- gagod in fishing; the company doing a business of $50,000 a year.
THOMAS F. MCGOWAN is a native of Buffalo, New York. Arriving at maturity, he was for fourteen years lumber inspector in his native place. From 1872 to 1878, Mr. MeGowan was trading on the Lake between Duluth and Portage, after which he settled in Duluth and has since been engaged in the wine, liquor, and cigar Busi- NONN.
SAMUEL O. MOQUADE Was born in 1829, in Penn- sylvunia. At the age of sixteen, he removed to Michigan, learned the carpenter trade and re- mained until twenty-three years old. In 1852, he came to Superior City, explored in the copper inines four years, in the meantime, making a
claim on French river, twelve miles north of Du- luth, where he resided till 1858. The following year he went to Portage Lake, Michigan, and was engaged at his trade till 1861. He then enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Michigan Infantry, was commissioned First Lieutenant, and in 1864, mus- tered out at Portage Lake, where he was employed at his trade till 1870. He then came to Duluth, and in company with O. K. Patterson, was for five years engaged in the manufacture of sash, and doors, and since at the carpenter trade. Since 1876, Mr. McQuade has been Sheriff of this county; wasfor three years Chairman of the board of County Commissioners, and also village Al- derman.
MOSES O'BRIEN is a native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, born in 1837. When sixteen years of age, he, in company with his uncle, made a survey of the ship channel across the Isthmus of Panama, spending something over two years on the the trip, visiting East and West Indies and Cen- tral America. On his return he was for a time in West Virginia, then in California, and in various business interests has traveled over quite a portion of the United States. He came to Duluth in 1870, and engaged in the livery business, which he has since followed. In 1876, he became a part- ner with Pratt and Knowlton, and on the death of the former, in 1880, the firm name was changed to O'Brien & Knowlton.
CAMILLE POIRIER was born in March, 1838, in Canada. He learned the shoemaker trade in his native place and in 1864, came to St. Paul, Min- nesota, where he was employed as superintendent in a boot and shoe establishment for five years. Then coming to Duluth he has since been in the same business, having increased his stock from year to year until now he has a fine stock, and the leading establishment in the city.
MICHAEL PASTORET is a native of Germany, and came to America in 1856. He first lived iu Wis- consin one year; then, in Chicago, Illinois, one year; then, at Eagle Harbor, Michigan, where he was engaged in the grocery and liquor business till 1869. In the latter year, he came to Duhith and has since been in the wholesale business of wines, liquors and cigars.
JOHN M. Rien was born in Philadelphia, Pem- sylvania, in 1838. He is a machinist, and since coming to Duhith in 1872, has had the superin- tendency of putting in the foundations of elevator
696
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
No. 1, and elevator B., and is at present engaged in that of elevator C.
JOHN G. RAKOWSKY is a native of Germany. Coming to America in 1865, he came directly to Duluth, and has siaco been engaged in the gro- cory and provision business.
HON. OZORA P. STEARNS, Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District, was born at De Kalb, St. Law- rence county, New York, on the 13th of January, 1831, and at the age of two years removed with the family to Lake county, Ohio. In a family of ten children, Ozora was the youngest son. He early evinced a strong desire to obtain a liberal education, and to that end his youthful energies were direeted, never swerving from this fixed pur- pose. Relying wholly upon his own resources, his progress was not rapid; but in 1858, the goal was reached, and he graduated with honors at the University of Michigan. During his protraeted course he had visited several other States, onee going to California, where he was mining, in 1853; engaging in various employments, always with the single purpose of completing his education. In 1860, he graduated in the Law deparement of the University of Michigan, and during the year, came to this State, and located at Rochester, where he arrived with but twenty cents in his pocket, and at once opened a law office. In the fall, he took part in the politieal campaign, in the interests of the Republican party, and the next fall was elected County Attorney of Olmsted county.
In August, 1862, he entered the army, being commissioned First Lieutenant of Company F, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. In April, 1864, he was commissioned Colonel of tho 'Thirty- ninth United States Infantry, (colored ) which position he held till the close of the war. He was with the Army of the Potomac from the battle of the Wilderness intil after the battle of Petersburg; then transferred to the Army of the James, and accompanied both Butler's and Terry's Fort Fisher expeditions. In January, 1866, he returned to Rochester and was elected to the office he re- signed on entering the army. The following year he was appointed Register in Bankruptcy for the southern district of Minnesota, and in January, 1871, was elected United States Senator, vice Daniel S. Norton, deceased. In the spring of 1872, he removed to Duluth, which has since been his home. His present office was first received by appointment in the spring of 1874, and since the fall of tlint year, has been held by election. His
pleasant home in Duluth is shared by a family ( interesting children, the fruits of his union wit Miss Sarah Burger, of Detroit, Michigan, who Ix came his wife in February, 1863, and still share his fortunes.
EUGENE A. SYLVESTER. a native of New Market New Hampshire, was born in 1846. He came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1871, and for six years was with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company then came to Duluth, and until 1880 was in the employ of the United States Express Company, since which he has been in Elevator B.
ANDREW J. SAWYER was born at Lockport, Ni- agara county, New York, in 1834. Before coming to Duluth, he dealt in live stoek ( cattle and horses ) in his native place. In 1879, he came here and has a line of warchouses on the line of the North- ern Pacific Railroad, extending from Duluth to Sanburn, Dakota Territory, his office being loeated at this place. During the year 1880, he bought, on the line, nearly one million bushels of wheat.
THOMAS SEXTON, one of the carly settlers of this region, was born in Ireland, in 1825. His family came to Canada when he was an infant, and in 1854, removed to Ontonagon county, Michigan, where our subject was engaged in the mines for one winter. Then coming to Superior City, Wis- eonsin, he was employed for a time in bridge building, and removed to Agate Bay, Minnesota, where he engaged in mining and fishing till the spring of 1881. He now makes Duluth his head- quarters und is at present engaged as commissary with the surveying party on the proposed railroad route from Duluth to Winnipeg. Mr. Sexton still owns n homestead at Agate Bay.
J. B. SUTPHIN is a native of New Jersey. In the year of 1870, he came to Duluth, and has since been dealing in cattle and horses. In April, 1881, in connection with the latter business, and in company with W. Lampson, Mr. Sutphin pur- chased the Duluth city meat market. The busi- ness was established in 1868, by Samuel J. Din- ning and afterward owned by J. P. Johnson, of whom our subject purchased.
OLOF STENSON, a native of Norway, came to America in 1872. Coming directly to Duluth, he was engaged a year at mason work and railroad- ing. Since 1873, Mr. Stenson has been in the grocery business.
PAUL SHARVY was born in Norway. In 1865, he eame to America, and for two years, was em- ployed as clerk in a grocery store ut Chicago,
697
BIOGRAPHIICAL.
thence to La Crosse, Wisconsin, two years, in the same business. After living in St. Paul one year, Mr. Sharvy came to Duluth in 1870, and for fonr years was engaged in the grocery business; after which he was Sheriff two years. Since 1876, he has been engaged in the elevator.
BENJAMIN F. SMITH, a native of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was born on the 12th of June, 1850. He learned the machinist trade at Charles- town, in his native State, and was employed by the Boston and Maine Railroad Company for ten years, most of which time he run a locomotive. In 1874, he came to Minnesota and was engaged as clerk in the grocery store of Henry A. Camp- bell at Brainerd, until coming to Dnlnth, since which he has been a partner in the establishment.
WILLIAM W. SPALDING is a native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and dates his birth on the 11th of July, 1820. At the age of twelve years, he commenced clerking in a mercantile honse. In 1836, his parents came to Illinois, lived a short time in Burean county, thence to La Salle county, where the subject of this sketch remained till 1841, when he engaged for four years in the lead mines of that State. He then came to the Lake Superior copper mines, where he was engaged until 1869. In March, 1848, Mr. Spalding discovered the ancient copper mines of Ontonagon county, about one hundred and sixty miles east of Duluth. In these old mines were found mining tools and every evidence of their having been worked thou- sands of years ago. Mr. Spalding was a member of the Buffalo Tract Town Site Company, which land was bought in 1854, and soon after surveyed; but not platted nntil 1869 or '70. In 1869, he came to Duluth, and has served the people as Alderman a number of years. He wns for a long time President of the Agrienltural Society; three years President of the Chamber of Commerce, and at the organization of the Board of Trade in the spring of 1881, became its Secretary. On the 27th of April, 1854, Miss E. Wilkinson became his wife. Their children are William M., and Jessie O. -
GEORGE W. SHERWOOD is a native of Dnehess county, New York. When a young man, he re- moved to Buffalo and was five years engaged in the mercantile business, and three in the hack and livery business. He was Sheriff eleven years, and Police Constable during the same time. In 1869, he came to Duluth, and for three seasons run the yacht, J. C. Keens, around the hend of the lake,
carrying freighit and passengers. He has since been dealing in wines, liquors, and cigars.
ANSELL SMITH, deceased, was a native of Graf- ton, Windham county, Vermont, his birth dating the 13th of January, 1821. He received an aca- demic education, and taught school from 1836 to 1842. In 1845, he removed to St. Charles, Illi- nois, where he published a paper a few years, and in 1850, came to Minnesota, and located at Taylor's Falls, Chisago conuty, remaining three years. After a residence of sixteen years at Franconia, in the same county, Mr. Smith accepted the posi- tion of Register in the United States Land Office at Duluth in 1869, holding the office nntil his death, on the 27th of June, 1877. Mr. Smith was quite prominent in local matters while a resident of Chisago county, and represented that district in the State Legislature during the years of 1863- 64 and '66. He married Miss Adaline Kidder, of Fayetteville, Vermont, in 1845.
GEORGE M. SMITH, a son of John T. Smith, who is one of the early settlers of Superior City, Wisconsin, is a native of Jefferson, Wisconsin. His father was engaged in the mercantile business, and George was employed as clerk for several years. In 1869, he came to Duluth, returning to Superior City after a year's stay, and engaged for four years in a flour and feed store. In 1874, he again came to Duluth and has since been engaged in the same business. In Jannary, 1880, the Northern Pacific Express Company established an offiee at Duluth, of which our subject has since been the Agent. In 1868, J. Cooke made his first visit to this region, and Mr. Smith was the one to eseort him from Superior City to Duluth.
ALBERT N. SEIP was born at Newburg, Penn- sylvania, on the 13th of Jannary, 1840. He was edneated at Easton High School and Lafayette College, and in 1861, joined the Union army, serv- ing in the army of the Potomac as private, Lieu- tenant, and Captain of Cavalry, also as Lieutenant in the United States Signal Corps. At the close of the war Mr. Seip settled in Washington county, entered Columbia Law College as a student, grad- uated in 1867, and the same year was admitted to the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. On the 3d of June, 1869, he came to Duluth, and on the 14th of the same month, opened, and for two months tanght the first public school in Duluth; and under its new development, was appointed Superintendent of the schools, which office ho held until 1871. He also, by the appointment of
698
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
Judge MeKelvy, held the office of Court Commis- sioner for the county, County Attorney for Carl- tou county in 1872, and City Attorney of Duluth in the defense of several civil actions instituted ort damages on account of the construction of a ennal, grading of streets, etc. He has always taken a deep interest in publie matters, being one of the founders of the St. Louis County Agricultural Society, for many years its Treasurer, and is now its President. He was for a number of years Seere- tary of the St. Louis River Dalles Company. HIe is interested in all educational and literary institu- tions, has been for many years corresponding See- retary of the public library of Duhith, and sinee 1877, Clerk of the board of Education. In 1872, Mr. Seip assisted in the organization of the Du- Inth Savings Bank, being its Vice-President till 1876, when he resigned. This is the only bank now at Duluth. In 1877, he was elected a mem- ber of the first Village Couneil, and two years later, County Attorney. Since 1877, he has been a member from the Eleventh Judicial Distriet of the State Board of Equalization, having been com- missioned by the Governor three different times. Mr. Seip also takes an active interest in social or- ganizations, has served as Judge Advocate of the Grand Army of the Republic of Department Seven, Minnesota; also Commander of Sherbrook Post of Duluth, and was the first, and for many years held the position of Secretary of Palestine Lodge, No. 79, A. F. and A. M. Mr. Seip has in- vested largely in Duluth, made a number of im- provements, and has many real estate interests in his eare.
CHARLES SCHILLER is a native of Michigan, in which State lie resided until coming to Duluth in 1880. Ile has since been engaged in the manu- facture and sale of eigars in company with Ed- mund Vogtlin.
4. D. Scorr, a native of Michigan, removed to Minnesota, and for several years was employed in factories at Minneapolis. In April, 1880, he eame to Duluth, where in company with D. E. Holston, he owns a planing mill, and a door, sash, and blind factory.
JOHN S. TAYLOR, a native of Scotland, was born in 1831, and came to Canada when a child. In 1850, he removed to Michigan, and four years later, engaged in the lumber business in West Bay City, at which he continued twenty-eight years, being one of the pioneer linnbermen of that place. In June, 1879, the subject of this sketch eame to Du-
Inth on a pleasure trip, and being favorably im- pressed with the locality soon returned, and in the fall of the same year built a saw mill at Rico's Point, with Messrs, Fish and Hanpt as partners; the latter being non-residents. Mr. Taylor also rents the old Munger and Gray mill which is op- erated under the firm name of J. S. Taylor and sons.
GEORGE TAYLOR dates his birth on the 7th of February, 1836, in New Brunswick; and in early life worked at the mill-wright trade. The year 1869, was spent as earpenter on the Illinois Con- tral Railroad, and in 1870, he came to Duluth and has since filled the position of engineer in ele- vator A.
HENRY TRUELSON, a native of Germany, eame to Ameriea in 1866, and for three years was em- ployed as book-keeper in northern Mieligan. He eame to Duluth in 1869, and started a general mercantile store with a stock of about $200; has sinee very much inereased the business, and at present occupies three adjoining stores.
WALTER VAN BRUNT, a native of Beloit, Wis- eousin, was born in the year 1846. His parents removed to Faribault, Minnesota, wlien our sub- jeet was but nine years old; thence, in 1866, to St. Paul, where Walter was engaged in a hardware store two years, then returned to Faribault and remained one year. Since 1869, Mr. Van Brunt has been a resident of Duluth; the first four years were spent as elerk in a hardware store, then as book-keeper for Graves & Co. until January, 1880, since which time he has been a partner in the firm of Graves & Bostwick, general commission mer- chants. He is also Manager of the Duluth 'Tele- phone Company, and Treasurer of the Duluth Brick and Fill Company reeently organized, the yard being located at Spirit Lake.
EDMUND VOGTLIN was born in the state of Michigan, which was his home until his removal to this place in 1879. The following year the firm of Schiller & Vogtlin was formed, and has sinee been eontinned.
CHARLES W. VANCE has for the past two years been agent for the St. Paul and Duluth, and also the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad eompa- ny, at this place. Previous to coming here he was three years with the former company at St. Paul.
EDWARD V. WRIGHT, a native of Quebec, Can- ada, dates his birth the 8th of December, 1843. When young, he learned the harness-maker
699
BIOGRAPHICAL.
trade and for several years conducted his father's business, then for six years carried on a shop of luis own. He came to Duluth in about 1879, where he owns and eondnets a harness-shop on Superior street.
VONLEY S. WILKINSON WAS born in 1835, in the state of Ohio, but in 1851, removed to Illinois, where for ten years he resided on a farm. Then enlisted in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, served four years, and returned to Bureau county. The year 1866, was spent in the County Treasurer's office, thenee to Ontonagon county, Michigan, where he was employed as book-keeper for a mining com- pany till 1869. Since the latter year, he has been a resident of Duhith and had charge of the mer- cantile store of W. W. Spalding.
SCARGALL WAKELIN was born in England in the year 1822, and eame to America in 1852. After a residence of four years in Cleveland, Ohio, he came to Superior City, Wisconsin, and kept a boarding house for a year. In 1857, he, in com- pany with his brother Edward, pro-empted the town site of Clifton, which had been laid out the year previous by another party, but abandoned soon after. Our subjeet resided there for seven or eight years and then returned to Superior City, where he remained till coming to Duluth in 1871. The following year, he opened a hotel which he still operates. The Wakelin House is a frame building containing forty rooms; with a fine stable in connection. Mr. Wakelin was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Leighton, of England, in 1850.
LOUIS WEBER, a native of Germany, came to America in 1847, and for two years resided in De- troit, Michigan, thenee to Ontonagon, where he was engaged in the copper mines until 1869. Then eame to Duluth and started a bakery, which he now conducts, also owns a confectionery and ice cream restaurant on Superior Street.
WILLIAM WHITESIDE, a native of St. Louis, Mis-
souri, came to Duluth in 1854, and resided three years, doing business at Superior City. In 1858, he went to Houghton, Michigan, opened a photo- graph gallery, and also hnd business interests in Marquette, at which ho continued until 1878. Then returned to Duluth aud has since operated n photograph gallery in this place.
IVER WISTED, a native of Norway, came to America in 1866, and after a residence of a few years in St. Paul, came to this place in 1869. Until 1877, he was employed at the carpenter trade, but has since conducted business on his own account, employing as many as twelve men.
ERNST WIELAND was born in Germany, and came to America in 1849. Hc resided in Ohio, engaged in a tannery for about nine years, then came to Superior City a short time, and thence about fifty miles above Duluth, engaged in the humber business. In 1878, he eame to Dulnth, opened his present tannery, which is 32x104 feet, and three stories high, and in which he employs fifteen men. During the year 1880, he handled from 3,000 to 4,000 hides, doing a business of about $30,000.
C. E. WENTWORTH was born in Rome, Oneida county, New York, and came to Duhith in 1869, in the employ of Jay Cooke, for the purpose of procuring laborers for the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad Company. In 1870, he went to Oneota, engaged in the mercantile business and remained three years, thence to Iowa in the same business until 1880, when he removed to St. Paul, and in the spring of 1881, returned to Duluth. Has since been proprietor of the Tropical Saloon.
J. D. and F. D. WALSH are natives of Canada, but came to the United States when young and learned the trade of boiler maker in Chicago, where they were employed until the fall of 1880. Then came to Duluth and started an establishment of their own, under the name of the American Steam Boiler Works.
-
700
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
THE GEOLOGY
OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI AND SAINT LOUIS VALLEYS, -BY- PROF. N. H. WINCHELL.
CHAPTER CLIX.
If any part of the State were to be designa- ted, above all others, as typieal and eharaeter- istie of the topography and other surface features that resulted from the glacial epoch, it would be necessary to select this portion. It is limited on the west und northwest, and is crossed at several places, and in different directions, by ridges of morainie acenmulations that rise several hundred feet above the general level. It is buried every- where under a burden of drift that is probably 200 feet thiek, in average. It is thickly strewn with lakes which not only bear on their surfaces the numerous species of migratory water-fowl of the northwest, but reflect the shadows of dense overhanging forests. It is swampy. It is sandy, and in some places it is stony. Its waters run in rapid, gurgling, elear brooks down its steep de- clines, or wander in sluggish movement through the tortuous ways of dismal swamps. Its animal life is varied, and its vegetation is rank. It sel- dom reveals by exposure, in situ, the roeky stra- tum underlying, and it is only by broad general- izations that the direction of its rock terranes ean be expressed.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.