USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 8
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W. F. STREET, is a native of Council Bluffs, Towa. After receiving the usual preparatory course, he entered the Nebraska State University, and gradnated in 1872. Was admitted to the Bar of Minnesota, at St. Paul, in 1879, and has since practiced law in St. Cloud. Mr. Street's residenee is in Sank Rapids, where he also has an office.
. DR. MOODY C. TOLMAN, ( deceased ) a graduate of Dartmouth College, and one of the first settlers of Stearns county, was born in Vermont, in 1824. In 1855, he came to Stearns eounty, and loeated in the town of Brockway, being the first physician in the town .* In 1859, the family removed to Anoka, which was their residenee until 1865. In 1861, Dr. Tolman enlisted as surgeon, in the See- ond Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served during the war; he accompanied Sherman in his famous " March to the Sea." After his return, he removed his family to St. Cloud, and practiecd medieine for three years, after which he opened a drug store, and condneted it until his death, which occurred on the 2d of March, 1873. Mrs. Tol- man's maiden name was Sarah E. Dwinal, a native of Mechanies' Falls, Maine. Their children are, Minnie C., Henry E., and Frank. Mr. Tohman was a member of the State Legislature in 1859-60; for a member of years President of the Board of Ed- ueation, and also County Superintendent of Schools for several years. At the time of his death, he was resident Director of the Normal School.
LEONARD THIELMAN was born in Prussia, on the 15th of January, 1844. In 1858, he came to Amer- ica, and resided until 1861, at Erie, New York. He then enlisted in the Forty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, in which he served one year, and afterwards, two years in the Navy. In 1865,
he came to St. Cloud and was employed for the next five years, ut farming und clerking in a store. In 1870, ho commenced the mennfacture and sale of pumps, and also engaged in the drive-well busi- ness. Sinee January, 1881, he has been a member of the firm of Griebler & Thielman, hardware mer- chants of this city. Mr. Thielman was married on the 1st of May, 1867, to Miss Mary Ruf. They have eight children; Frank J., William, Peter, Rn- dolph, George, Carrie M., John, and Henry.
B. F. TOZIER, a native of Penobscot county, Maine, was born on the 24th of February, 1839. He eame to St. Cloud in 1872, and has since been employed in the various mills in this city. Mr. Tozier was engineer in Raymond & Owen's mann- faetory for five years, and now holds the same po- sition in F. H. Dam's mill. He was married to Mrs. Mary H. Nodin, in July, 1866.
FRANCIS TALCOTT dates his birth, in Glastonbury, Connecticut, on the 4th of March, 1822. He came to St. Cloud in May, 1856, and after spending the first summer on a farm, engaged in the jewelry business at Lower Town, where he continued to trade for ten years, after which he removed to the business center of the city, where he enjoys a fair share of the public patronage. Miss Rhoda M. Dewey, of Malone, New York, became the wife of Mr. Taleott, on the 14th of November, 1871.
HENRY CHESTER WAITE, one of the pioneers and leading business men of Stearns eounty, is a native of Rensselaerville, Albany county, New York, and was born on the 30th of June, 1830. When he was four or five years old, his parents moved to Chantanqna county, in the western part of the State, halting two or three years in the town of Pomfret, and then settling on a farm in the town of Gerry, where Henry had some experi- ence in solid work. Ho prepared for college at Fredonia and Jamestown, entered the junior class of Union College, Schenectady, in 1849, and grad- nated two years later; read law with Emory F. Warren, of Sinelairville, and was admitted to the Bar at a term of court held at Angelica, Allegany county, in the summer of 1853. In the autumn of the same year, Mr. Waite located at Madison, Wisconsin, forming a partnership in the law prac- tice with Alexander Botkin, since deceased, and Thomas Hood, the firm being Botkin, Hood, and Waite. In the spring of 1855, while the Winne- bago Indians were vacating this part of the Mis- sissippi valley, Mr. Waite settled at St. Cloud, be- ing the first attorney to open an office here. After
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
practicing several years, he opened a private bank, in company with 'T. C. MeClure, and managed it till 1865, when ho was appointed Register of the land office, a position which he held for four years. For the last dozen years, Mr. Waite has been in miscellaneous business -- farming, milling, mer- chandising, mining, etc. He has a farm of six hundred and forty aeres near town, a flouring mill at Cold Spring City, an interest in several stave factories, and is a partner in the Black Hills Mining and Quartz Mill Company, Dakota Terri- tory. He has seen a good deal of frontier life, is an energetie and very industrious man, has one of the kindest of hearts, and is an invalnable neigh- bor, estcemed by everybody for his generous deeds. Mr. Waite was a member of the constitutional convention in 1857, and sinee Minnesota beeame a State, has served one session in the House and two in the Senate. He is a diligent man, whether working for himself or for the State, and having good judgment, as well as practical application, he made a valuable legislator. In the Senate, he was Chairman of the railroad and printing com- mittecs, and on the judiciary committee. The wife of Mr. Waite was Mrs. Maria D. Paige, daughter of Dr. Shepherd Clarke, of Hubbardston, Worces- ter county, Massachusetts, their marriage oecur- ring on the Ist of January, 1860. They have two sons; John Chester and Clarke.
HON. CHARLES A. GILMAN, Lientenant Governor of Minnesota, and for many years prominently identified with the political history of the State, is a lineal descendent of Edward Gilman, who camo from England in 1638, and whose descendants af- terward figured conspicuously in the chronicles of New England. Charles Andrew, the subject of this sketch, is a son of Charles and Eliza ( Page) Gilman, his birth occurring at Gihuntown, New Hampshire, February 9th, 1833. His youth was passed on his father's farm, seeuring in the meantime sneh edu- eational advantages as were offered in the common sehools, afterwards receiving an academie ednea- tion in his native town, and was employed in teach- ing several terms. In 1855, he eame to Minne- sota, and located at Sank Rapids, where he remain- od about six years, during which timo he served ono term as Register of Dceds, and one as Anditor of Benton county. In 1861, he was appointed by President Lincoln, to the ofliee of Receiver of the land ofliee at St. Cloud, and removed to that place, which hassinee been his home. His residence is one of the finest in the Northwest, commanding a de-
lightful view of the Mississippi, on the bank of which it is situated. After four years in the land office, he spent one or two years in humbering, then returned to the office under appointment by President John- son, but resigned at the end of one year, and en- gaged in extensive explorations, surveys, and land sales, in which he has spent many years. In 1869, he was appointed Register of the land offiee, but resigned near the elose of the next year, and in 1875, commeneed the study of law. In December, 1876, he was admitted to the Bar, and at the no- table impeachment trial of Judge Sherman Page, was employed as one of the managers for the pros- eention. He was a member of the State Senate in 1868-69, his distriet then comprising over half the area of the State, also a member of the lower honse in 1875-78, and re-elected in November, 1878, being elected Speaker at the organization of the legislature in January, 1879. In 1879, he was elected Lieutenant Governor, which position he still holds. In the session of 1877, he was in- strmnental in proseenting the measures leading to the final building of the railroad from Sauk Rap- ids to Brainerd, of which line he is one of the Di- reetors.
On the 1st of January, 1857, Mr. Gilman was united in marriage with Miss Hester Cronk, of Sauk Rapids, from which nniou several children have been born, a number of whom have died.
J. E. WEST, one of St. Cloud's pioneers, and Postmaster sinee 1869, is a native of Greene county, Ohio, born in 1833. He came to St. Cloud in 1855, and was engaged in the lumber business a short time, but tho following spring, established a general store, which he discontinued in 1857. He then manufactured lime and brick, and was also engaged in building for several years. In 1862, he enlisted in Company I, of the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and served three years; he was mustered in as Sergeant, but promoted to Lientenant, and held a Captain's commission at the time of his discharge. Mr. West returned to St. Cloud and has ever since been elosely identified with the progressive ele- ment of the city.
JAMES E. WING was born in Kennebec county, Maine, on the 15th of May, 1832. He emne west in 1863, and located at Brockway, Stearns conty, where he was engaged in farming for three years. He then removed his family to St. Cloud, but went himself to Otter Tail county, where he was engaged in Imber business one year. He then
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
returned to St. Cloud, which has since beon his residence. Mr. Wing is quito extensively en- gnged in the sale of agricultural implements and buying wheat. He was married on the 17th of November, 1855, to Miss Susan Carey, of Belfasl, Maine. They have two children; Theodore C. and Joseph W.
JOHN A. WARNKEN is a native of Germany, born in 1850. He emme to America in 1870, and resided at Cincinnati one year, thence to Louis- ville, Kentneky, and in March, 1872, came to St. Cloud, and for the next two years, was engaged as teacher in the schools of Stearns county. Since 1874, he has been engaged in the sale of agricul- tural implements. Mr. Warnken was married on the 15th of Jime, 1873 to Miss Mary Schieter, who died in September, 1877, leaving three chil- dren; William, Gertrude, and Henry. He was married again on the 19th of Angust, 1878, to Lizzie Boos. They have one child named Mary.
NICHOLAS WEBER dates his birth in Luxenburg, Germany, in 1845. In 1856, he came to America with his parents, who located in St. Augusta, Stearns county, where Nicholas grew to manhood, engaged in farming pursuits, which he followed until 1877, when he removed to St. Cloud. Mr. Weber is now engaged in the sale of agricultural implements. He was married on the 28th of No- vember, 1872, to Miss Mary Marthaler. Of five children which they have had, four are living; Emma M., Mary A., Elizabeth K., and Joseph P.
WARREN W. WRIGHT, station agent of the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railrond Com- pany, in St. Cloud, is a nalive of Franklin county, New York, born on the 11th of July, 1823. When eleven years of nge, he went to sea, and followed the profession for upwards of twenty years, she- cossively tilling every position, from cabin-boy to Captain. Iu 1856, he came to Wabasha county, Minnesota, and was engaged at farming and mer- chandising until 1864, when he came to Anoka as station agent for the railroad company, and has since been in their employ. He has been station agent at Anoka, Elk River, Big Lake, and St. Cloud, coming to the latter place in 1867. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ismon, on the 18th of September, 1850. They have seven children; Mattie E., now Mrs. J. F. Steven- son, of St. Cloud; Mollie, Edward H., who is ticket agent and telegraph operator at St. Cloud, which position he has held about four years. He was born in Plainview, Wabasha county, Minne-
sota, on the 21th of September, 1861; Jeunie, now Mrs. 12. E. Hamlin, of St. Cloud; Susie B., Charles P., and Warren W.
NICK. J. WEBER, one of the proprietors of the Cily Brewery, was born in Luxemburg, Germany, on the 29th of September, 1852. When quite young, he came to America with his parents, and was reared on a farm in St. Angusta, Stearns county. In 1878, came to St. Cloud township, and was engaged in farming until February, 1881, when he bought a half interest in the brewery. Mr. Weber was married on the 22d of January, 1878, to Miss Margaret Bisiucus, of St. Cloud. Their children are, William S. and John P.
JOHN L. WILSON, one of the carly pioneers, and the proprietor of the site of St. Cloud, was born at Columbia, Washington county, Maine, on the 24th of February, 1820. When about five years old, the family moved to what is now Bradley, twelve miles above Bangor, on the Penobseot river, where the subject of this sketch attended school, the teacher being Mrs. Gardner, now of Grove Lake, Stearns county. In 1830, he removed with the family, to New Jersey, and when twelve years old, went to New York City, and was em- ployed in the printing office of Goodale, Barker & Nyles, the great temperance journal publishers. HIe then was clerk in a store for a time, after which he was engaged with the wholesale hat, cap, and fur house of E. C. Boughton & Co., thence in the employ of William R. Prince, the great real estate speculator of Flushing, Long Island, after which he spent a number of years in the exchange and brokerage business. In 1840, he came west and located at St. Charles, Illinois, and for eleven years followed the occupation of contractor and builder in that vicinity. In 1851, he came to Minnesota under n contract with Mr. Taylor, the partner of Franklin Steele, to put in seven saw mills at the Falls of St. Anthony, but the proprietors dis- agreed and the mills were not built.
In December, 1852, he came to Sauk Rapids and commenced work on a saw mill for the " Min- nesota Outfit," and also built a house there for the land company. Some time after, he went to Little Falls and completed a saw mill which had been previously commenced, and also built the first mill in Stearns county, a saw mill at St. Angusta. Mr. Wilson came to this place in 1853, bought the present site of St. Cloud from a squatter, and has resided here ever since. He was a Representative in the Territorial Legislature of 1855-56 and '57,
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
and in the State Legislature of 1870. Ho was the first President of the city council in St. Clond, and has been City Justice and Alder- man, and held a number of other local offices; he was also Judge of Probate of Benton county in 1853. Mr. Wilson was nutried to Miss Cordolin Morgan, daughter of Joshna Morgan, founder of the city of Buffalo, New York, in May, 1847; she died in November, 1852, leaving one son, who also died the following January. He was married again on the 13th of November, 1855, to Mrs. Harriet N. Corbet. Their children are, Frederick, Grace P., Nettie E., and Vietor.
CHARLES WEBER, deceased, one of the first Ho- meopathic practitioners west of Minneapolis, was born in Germany on the 12th of February, 1829. He came to America in 1847, and located at Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, which was his home for seven years. While there he began the study of medi- cine, and spent two years and a half at St. Vincent College, afterwards graduating at the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago. About 1855, he went to Burlington, Iowa, and was engaged in the drug business there nutil 1862, when he came to St. Cloud, and carried on a drug store here, besides hav- ing an extensive practice, until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1881. The Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Schimmer, of Pittsburg. They had four children; Frederick L,, Charles M., Francis, and Anna. The two sons are promising young men, aged respectively twen- ty-two and twenty years. They have been en- gaged in teaching school for a number of years in this and adjoining counties.
M. WETZEL was born in Germany on the 6th of Jannary, 1836. He came to America in 1864, and after working a year at the cooper's trade in Chi- cago, camo lo St. Cloud, romainod Three years and went to Minneapolis, but returned to St. Cloud in 1868, and has resided here ever since. Mr. Wetzel has followed the occupation of cooper ever since coming to St. Cloud.
ALBANY. CHAPTER XC.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT-OR- GANIZATION - VILLAGE-SCHOOLS -CHURCHES -- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS -- BIOGRAPHICAL,
Albany is situated in the northeast center of
the county, and embraces township 125 north, range 31 west. It is chiefly covered with timber of the different varieties of oak, with some small ma- ple and poplar.
There are a number of good hay meadows in the town, making it quito desirable for grazing purposes. The settlers are chiefly Germans and Austrians, the greater portion of whom have but recently begun to open their farms.
There were no evidences of occupancy or im- provement here when John Schwinghammer, Jr. came in search of a home in 1862. After explor- ing the country and selecting a location, Mr. Schwinghammer returned to his family, but came with his father the following summer, and made claims on sections twenty-two and twenty-threc. The son still resides on the old claim, but his father died in 1867, which was the first death in the town. Prominent among those who followed the same year were, Isidore Obermiller, Panl Obermiller, and John Platz, and during the next three or four years, John and Jacob Christen, Peter Dirkes, George Lcissle, Simon Groetch, and others made claims in the same locality.
This town was a part of Avon until 1868, when a separate organization was effected. It has an area of 23,010 acres, of which, 1534 are under enl- tivation. The population, according to the last census, was 580.
The officers elected at the first general town meeting were: Supervisors, John Schwingham- mer, Chairman, Isidore Obermiller, and John Han- ser; Justice of the Peace, Joseph Schwinghammer; and Treasurer and Clerk. Frederic Weitzel.
VILLAGE .- The St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Man- itoba railroad crosses near the center of the town in a westerly direction. Albany station was estab- lished on the south line of section fifteen, where a thriving little village has sprung into existence. There are four general stores, one hotel, one har- ness shop, one shoe store, one blacksmith shop, one grist mill, besides a number of saloons and smaller business places.
There is also a Catholic church in the village, at which the people from the whole township assemble for worship.
The township is divided into two school dis- triets. Number fifty-nine was the first organized, in 1868, and the first school taught by Anthony Fralek.
The first building was erceted on scetion twenty-two, but after the formation of a new dis-
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ALBANY TOWNSHIP.
friet, the present neat frame school-house in the villugo was built.
District mimber one hundred and eleven was organized in 1877, being detached from district fifty-nine.
The old school-house on section twenty-two is still in use by this district.
According to the agricultural report for 1880, the prodnets of Albany were as follows: wheat, 19,982 bushels; oats, 9,236 bushels; eorn, 2,174 bushels; barley, 449 bushels; rye, 84 bushels; potatoes, 2,599 bushels; wild hay, 833 tons; wool, 608 pounds; butter, 3,519 pounds; cheese, 500 pounds; and honey, 250 pounds.
BIOGRAPHIICAL.
CYRUS S. BROCK was born in the city of Phila- delphia, on the 15th of March, 1856. While yet a boy his parents moved to Queenstown, Canada, where he grew to manhood, taking a full course at the Toronto Normal School, from which he graduated in 1870, and subsequently taught school at Brantford, Canada. He then worked a few months on his father's farm, after which he was employed about a year on a government survey in northwestern Canada. After teaching school a short time in St. John's Parish, near Winnipeg, he returned to his home in Canada, but after a brief visit, came to Minnesota and has since been en- gaged as a school teacher in Serburne, Otter Tail, and Stearns counties.
MICHAEL Fox was born on the 5th of Septem- ber, 1857, in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he lived on a farm enjoying common school priv- ileges till he was eighteen years of age, when he left home, working in different places, and at dif- ferent kinds of employment for about six years. In 1880, he came to Minnesota, and worked on the Winona and St. Peter railroad, doing section work, until he bought his present home in April, 1881. His farm of one hundred and sixty acres is in section four. It is new, and mostly covered with timber, but offers every advantage for a good farm. He married Miss Ida Finger in the sum- mer of 1880. Mrs. Fox was born in the town of Bristol, Wisconsin, on the 22d of Jnne, 1862. They have one child, named William.
JAMES HOBAN was born on the 3d of June, 1848, in the village of Carbondale, Inzerne county, Pennsylvania. He lived with his parents until nineteen years age, when he found his way to Me- Leod county, Minnesota, where he bonght a farm
and lived about five years. He came to this town- ship in the spring of 1881, and bought a farm in section eighteen, where he now resides. He was married to Miss Catharine Barrett, who was also born in Pennsylvania. They have three children.
GEORGE KULZER, a native of Bavaria, Germany, was born on the 22d of April, 1831. He lived with his parents, enjoying the school privileges of his native country, and working on the farm when not at school. When he was twenty-three years of age he emigrated to the United States, remain- ing in Pittsburg for two years, working in a rol- ling mill. In 1856, he eame to St. Wendel, Stearns county, where he bought a farm on see- tions thirty-two and thirty-three, and lived for eighteen years. Was driven away during the In- dian massaere, and with others, fonnd a refuge at St. Joseph. He sold his farm in 1874, and located on a farm of one hundred and twenty-six aeres, in seetion twenty-two, in this township, where he has since resided. He has a store, hotel, and saloon at the station. He was married in the year 1854, to Miss Margaret Winter, who was born in Bava- ria, Germany, in 1829. They have had six chil- dren; one, Mathias, about sixteen years of age, died June 9th, 1881, of diphtheria.
MARTIN OLEF MATTSON was boru in Sweden, where he enjoyed the school advantages of his native country till fifteen years of age, when the family emigrated to the United States, locating at Millville, Wabasha county, Minnesota. He attended school there for three years, then one term at Lake City, and one term at the Skandinavian College, at St. Peter. At the age of twenty-two years, he weut to Chicago and attended the Northwestern Telegraph Institute for six months. After com- pleting his studies, he was employed as telegraph operator at Rochester, Minnesota. He has been in the employ of the Minnesota and Midland, Hastings and Dakota, Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul, and is now employed by the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railroad Company. He has charge of the depot at Albany, in the capacity of station agent and telegraph operator.
GEORGE JOHN WEIMMER WAS born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 9th of February, 1824. He was raised on a farm, attending school in the city of Munich abont four years, prior to coming to the United States. Came to New York in 1846, and was employed as clerk in a wholesale store for a time, then farmed in New York and l'ennsylvania, till 1858, when he came to St. Paul, Minnesota,
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
and was employed with his brother, as engineer on a railroad for some time. He then kept a hotel for three years at Faribault, and in 1865, came to his present farm in the township of Albany. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary Bnekenmeier, to whom he was married iu 1849. She died in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, in 1855, leaving three children, one of whom has since died. His present wife was Miss Elizabeth Hartman, a native of Pennsylvania, cho- sen in the year 1857. They have had nine child- ren, eight of whom are living.
GEORGE WEIMMER dates his birth in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, on the 11th of April, 1853. The family came west in 1860, and after remain- ing two months in St. Panl, his father engaged in hotel business, continuing the same for nearly nine years. The subject of our sketch came to Albany in 1869, and has lived here ever since. He carries on a general store in the village, and is the present Town Clerk. Mr. Weimmer was united in marriage with Miss Johanna Garreis, of Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1879.
ASHLEY.
CHAPTER XCI.
DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY SETTLEMENT - ORGANIZATION -SCHOOLS - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS - BIO- GRAPHICAL.
Ashley is situated in the northwest corner of the county, and is chiefly a rolling prairie. The ouly exceptions being a strip of brush land on the east lino uear the northeast corner, and along the course of Ashley creek, which rises in Westport Lake, Pope county, and flows northeasterly through this town into the Sauk river, forming one of its principal tributaries. The soil varies from a light and sandy, to a black loam, with a clay sub-soil. It embraces all of township 126, range 35 west, and the sonth tier of sections of township 127, range 36, making an acreage of 26,880 acres, of which 1,118 are under cultivation.
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