Polk County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches, 1916 (part 3 of 15)

John W. O'Brien

One of the few remaining members of the fast W. 0 'Brien, a retired hardware merchant of Crooksfading remnant of our pioneers in Polk county, John ton, is highly respected by everybody because of his early and later services in the Northwest, his sterling integrity and useful citizenship, and the fine example of business capacity and enterprise which he has given the people in this section of the state. While he has retired from active work in connection with the hardware business he founded, he is still a member of the firm which conducts it and gives it the benefit of his advice.

Mr. O'Brien was born in County Mayo, Ireland, July 14, 1849. His parents, Michael and Mary (Tighe) O'Brien, were also County Mayo folks and their ancestors lived for many generations in that part of the Emerald Isle. The father came to the United States in 1849 and the family joined him in this country in 1852. He took up his residence at Belvidere, Illinois, and there worked at his trade of stonemason and carried on business as a building contractor. He died at Belvidere in 1867, and the mother died there in 1898. They had seven sons, six living, and two daughters, one dead. One daughter and three of the sons are residents of Crookston, and the other son lives at Devil's Lake, North Dakota, and two reside in Illinois.

in Duluth in 1869. He worked on the Lake Superior railroad for a time and was then employed on the Northern Pacific when that road was building into Moorhead, Minnesota, his position on each I'oad being that of foreman, and in this capacity he helped to build the Great Northern into Beltrami. In 1873 he passed a short time in Crookston and in 1878 located in that city permanently. There he started in business for himself, which he followed until 1885, when he opened a hardware store in partnership with his brother James, and this is the one the brothers still own.

Mr. O'Brien is a Catholic in church affiliation and has been a zealous and serviceable Democrat in political allegiance from his youth. In 1882 he was united in marriage with Miss Johanna Donovan, a native of Canada but of Ii'ish parentage. She died in 1907 leaving no children. Throughout her married life she met every requirement of her duty with energy and a cheerful spirit, and she stood deservedly high in the good will and regard of the whole community of her home, as Jlr. 0 'Brien does now and always has wherever he is known.

Charles A. Hitchcock

In the twenty-two years of his residence in Crookston Charles A. Hitchcock, one of the city's leading men, has built up an extensive business and an excellent reputation as a shrewd and far-seeing business man and an enterprising, progressive and publicspirited citizen, warmly and intelligently interested in the welfare of the community and willing at all times to do his part of the work necessary to promote it.

Mr. Hitchcock was born in Dubuque, Iowa, December 2, 1864, a son of Rollin G. and Lucy E. (Nelson) Hitchcock, natives of Vermont. The father was a farmer in his native state and continued to be one after he came "West. In 1855 he located in Iowa, where he purchased a tract of veild land which he converted into a well improved and valuable farm. He and his wife died at the home of their son Charles at the age of eighty-nine years, their deaths occurring within one month of each otlier. They were the parents of three sons and four daughters, Charles A. being the only one of the seven living in Minnesota, of which he has been a resident for twenty-seven j-ears. Charles A. Hitchcock grew to manhood and was educated in Iowa, and followed farming until 1888. In that year he removed to Mcintosh, this county, and began auctioneering stock, and this has been his principal occupation from then until the present time. In 1893 he changed his residence to Crookston, which has ever since been his home. But his business takes him periodically to Dlinois and Iowa, Avhere he is as well known and highly esteemed as he is in Minnesota, and where he devotes himself to his chosen calling on an extensive scale and in a very active way.

Mr. Hitchcock was married in 1888 to Miss Mary E. Barr, a native of Iowa, in which state the marriage took place. They have one child, their son Hariy W., who is living at home with them and is connected with the Times Printing company. In the local public affairs of his community Mr. Hitchcock has long taken an active and helpful part. He served the city of Crookston as mayor from 1900 to 1903, and during his administration the first street paving in the city was done and other improvements of value were made. He also served a.s a member of the city council for a number of years. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic Order and the Order of Elks. He also belongs to the United Commercial Travelers' Association, and his wife and son are members of the Congregational church.

James M. Cathcart

Although yet a young man, and by no means of a wildly roving or adventurous nature, James M. Cathcart, the accomplished and accommodating secretary of the Crookston Commercial club, has seen a great deal of this country and had an experience of extensive variety. He is a native of Elkhart county, Indiana, where his life began in 1884, and the son of John F. and Florence (Boyer) Cathcai't, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. Their son James began his education in the district schools of Indiana and completed it at the select school kept by Rev. Dwight L. Moody at Mount Hermon, Massachusetts.

Mr. Cathcart began his career of self-support and advancement in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad, working in the engineering department at Elkhart, Indiana. Later he was in the same service in New York state and the general offices of the company in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1908 he came to Minnesota and located in St. Paul, where he entered the employ of the Great Northern railroad. In 1912 and 1913 he was general manager of the department of hotels and camps in Glacier National Park, supervising the operation and assisting in the construction of buildings, trails and other developments there for the railroad company.

In the fall of 1913 Mr. Cathcart returned to Indiana, and in March^ 1914, when the Crookston Commercial club was reorganized, he was chosen secretary of the revived organization, and has served it in that capacity ever since. He is also secretary of the Northwestern Fair Association of Crookston, and a member of the Order of Elks and the Masonic Order, in the latter holding his Blue Lodge membei-ship in Indiana and belonging to the Royal Arch and Commandery of Knights Templar and the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was married in Grand Forks, North Dakota, October 24, 1915, to Miss Elva Gilbert, a native of South Dakota.

This pioneer physician and surgeon of Crookston, who is widely and favorably known as a professional man of extensive attainments and skill and a citizen of great enterprise, public spirit and progressiveness, is a native of the city of Stavanger, Norway, where he reached the age of sixteen years. In 1873 he came to the United States with his parents and located with them on a farm in Fillmore eoiuity, Minnesota.

iu 1893 was graduated from the medical departmeut of the University of Minnesota. He at once began practicing his profession with Crookstou as liis headquarters, and he has since then been continuously engaged in an active practice with special attention to the surgical branch of the profession. lie has served as county physician of Polk county ajid is now secretary of the Tuberculosis Sanitarium Commission for Polk and Norman counties.

In 1897 Dr. Holte built the Bethesda Hospital in Crookston, and for a number of years thereafter he was in active control of it. This valued institution is now owned by the Bethesda Hospital Association of Crookston and is conducted by the organization known as the Lutheran Deaconesses. Dr. Holte is a member of the state, county and Red River Valley medical societies and the American Medical Association. He is also a member of the American Public Health Association, and director of the Minnesota

Public Health Association, and in business circles is a director of the Scandia-Americau Bank of Crockston and the Crookston Commercial club. His religious aliiliation is with the English United Lutheran church, and he is one of the deacons of the congregation in which he holds his membership. On September 25, 1902, he was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta Lunde, of Franklin, Minnesota. They have three children, Harold Oliver, Evelyn Irene and Junius Augusten. With nearly a quarter of a century of upright and serviceable living among this people, during all of which he has always been at their command for high-grade professional work, it is not surprising that Dr. Holte is universally esteemed throughout the Northwest, and the fact that he is is creditable alike to him and to the people among whom he has lived and labored so long and to such good purpose.

Hon. R. T. Buckler

Carrying on extensive industries in farming operations and raising livestock ; taking an active and very serviceable part in the public affairs of his county and the whole state of Minnesota ; looking to the best and most wholesome progress and development of this part of the country, and holding a high place in the regard and good will of his fellow men, Hon. R. T. Buckler, at present (1916) state senator for the Sixtysixth Senatorial district, is an ornament to the manhood of Polk county and one of the county's most progressive, enterprising and useful citizens.

Mr. Buckler was born in Coles county, Illinois, October 27, 1865, and gi-ew to manhood and obtained his education there. His father died when the son was but fourteen years old, and as he was the oldest boy at home, the care of the family devolved in a measure on him. At the age of twenty-one he rented a tract of land in his native county and began to raise broomcorn on a large scale. His average acreage devoted to this production ranged from 120 to 160 acres, and his crops were the largest ever raised in that part of Illinois. He prospered in his venture and bought land until he owned 370 acres, all of which he made through his own unaided efforts. He bought his land at $50 an acre and sold some of it at $100 and the rest at $150 an acre, but he expended a considerable sum on improvements also.

The senator became a resident of Polk county in the spring of 1904, having purchased the year before some 800 acres of land in Andover township. Later he sold a part of this but subsequently added more, and now owns 1,040 acres all in one body on Burnham's creek, six miles west of Crookston. On this land, a part of which is the old Alexander Burnham home, he raises great crops of grain and numbers of horses, cattle and sheep. In 1915 he had over 16,000 bushels of oats, 13,000 bushels of barley and 7,000 bushels of wheat. In his farming operations he employs four men and thirteen horses all the time, but does his plowing and threshing with a gas tractor. His usual holdings of livestock run from 1,700 to over 4,000 head of sheep, which run in the grass and stubble and are fattened for the markets, a large herd of cattle and a good-sized drove of horses. His farm, which is well drained and one of the choicest in the county, is widely and favorably known as a great stock farm.

In everything that has to do with the welfare of Polk county and his township the senator has always taken an active and very helpful interest. He was one of the organizers of the Northwestern Fair association, has been one of its directors from the beginning of its history, frequently one of its leading exhibitors, and has served as its treasurer. He is also one of the directors of the Farmers' Elevator company at Crookston, and has served as chairman of the township board of supervisors in his township.

In the fall of 1914 Mr. Buckler was elected to the State Senate as a nonpartisan candidate, but he is a Democrat in political faith and cast his last vote for the presidency for Hon. Woodrow Wilson. In the senate session of 1915 he served on the committees on railroads, grain and warehouses, roads and bridges, towns and counties, and others of importance. He procured the enactment of a law compelling railroad companies to keep the stock cars used by them clean ; obtained an appropriation of $15,000 for cleaning out the Sand Hill river near Beltrami, and was an earnest advocate for giving the farmers more voice in determining how the money appropriated for good roads should be expended. His Sand Hill river project, which had been hung up in three former sessions of the legislature, was carried into successful execution in 1915. It provides drainage for a large extent of valuable land not hitherto wholly available for use. His views on the expenditure of state money on roads made him popular in his district and had a considerable degree of influence in bringing about his election to the senate. The law as passed did not fully meet his views, but it gives the farmers and taxpayers advantages of value which they did not have before it was passed.

In fraternal relations Senator Buckler is a member of the Order of Elks. He was married at the age of twenty-six to Miss Addie Ball, of Coles county, Illinois. They have six children, Ruth, Eva, Jack, La Feme, Mary, and Maxine. The religious leaning of the family is to the Presbyterian church. The senator and all the other members of his household take an earnest interest in all undertakings for the good of the county and do their part toward making them successful and serviceable in the largest possible measure.

Charles E. Kiewel

Secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Kiewel Brewing company of Crookston, Charles E. Kiewel holds a position of great importance in the business life of the city and is highly esteemed by all classes of the people for the admirable manner in which he fills it, the elevated and useful citizenship he exhibits and his sterling manhood in all the relations of life. He was born in the city of Moorhead, Clay county, Minnesota, in 1875, the son of Jacob and Rose (Niggler) Kiewel, the former a native of Prussia and the latter of Switzerland. They came to this country in their childhood and located in Ottertail county, Minnesota, the mother's people arriving

Charles E. Kiewel grew to manhood at Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and obtained his education in the schools of that city. He learned the brewing business at Little Falls in this state. In 1899 he and his father became interested in the brewing industry in Crookston by purchasing a small brewery owned and operated by August "Walters. They soon afterward enlarged the plant to its present capacity of 30,000 barrels a year. Their product is sold in many parts of the Northwest in the United States and also ex- teiisively in Canada. They have an active trade and show the most commendable enterprise in keeping up with its steadily increasing demands and all of its most exacting requirements, being abreast of the times and the market at all times.

In addition to his interest in the brewery Mr. Kiewel is extensively engaged in farming and raising live stock, his favorites being Holstein and Shorthorn cattle, and he has lands devoted exclusively to agriculture besides those he uses for grazing purposes. He pushes all departments of his business with energy, giving each his personal attention, and studying everything likely to aid him in obtaining the best

Mr. Kiewel was married in 1896 to Miss Katharine Blake of Little Falls. They have two children, their sons Dewey J. and Charles. The father of these children is a member of the Order of Elks and takes an active part in the work of his lodge. He is also a progressive citizen and displays a highly commendable public spirit in connection with all undertakings for the welfare and improvement of the city and county of his home. He is widely and favorably known in many parts of Minnesota and the adjoining states.

Charles E. Dampier, SI. D., pioneer physician and surgeon in the northwest and eminent citizen of Crookston, is a native of Canada, born in Waterloo, province of Quebec, June 5, 1854. Two years later his parents, Edward and Charlotte (Parmclee) Dampier, came to Minnesota. Edward Dampier was born in Paris but was of English parentage and his wife was a native of Vermont. They located in Steel county, in what is now Lamand township, in 1856, and were the second family of white settlers in that section. Here Edward Dampier took a claim and engaged in the clearing of the land, part of which. wa.s a timber tract. A few years later he removed to Meridian township where he lived until 1862. In that year he went to Dakota county and there rented a farm. He also resided for a time in Fergus Falls and Northfield. He was engaged in the hotel business in the latter place when the town was raided by the Younger Bros, and it was from a window of his hotel that Dr. Wheeler shot Clell Miller. The gun used in this affair is now in the possession of Dr. Dampier, a memento of pioneer days. Edward Dampier answered the call of his adopted eountrj' during the time of her gi-eat struggle and enlisted from Dakota county in Company A, Hatch's independent battalion and served as first lieutenant of his company, which was detailed to detached duty in Jlinnesota, until the close of the war. On receiving his honorable discharge in 1865, he returned to Dakota county and purchased a farm near Castle Rock. As an early settler of the state, he endured the hardships and trials of that time, a worthy citizen of the new commonwealth. He died, February, 22, 1889. His wife survived him a number of years, her death occun-ing on May 1, 1905. They had seven children, of whom two sons and a daughter are residents of Minnesota. Charles Dampier was i-eared in Minnesota and received his early education in the country schools. He completed his preparatory studies in an academy at Elgin, Illinois, and attended Carleton college. He began his professional .studies inider Dr. C. L. Armington in Northfield and in 1876 entered the medical college of the University of Michigan, receiving his degree in 1878. He located at Dell Rapids, South Dakota, and practiced tliere for about six months and then returned to Minnesota and to Northfield. In the following year he came to Crookston where he enjoys a large and successful practice as the oldest practicing physician in that city. Dr. Dampier has never regarded his medical education as finished but continues his scientific studies and research, keeping in touch with the many developments and achievements of the medical world. He has taken several post graduate courses, two of them in Chicago. He has won much distinction through his able services during his professional career. He served for five years as eoiineilor for the State Medical society and is a n^ember of the American, Red River Valley, and County medical societies. He has received a number of important federal appointments and is the comity examiner for the sanitarium at Walker, Minnesota, the secretjiry of the Board of Pension Examiners and for twenty-live years has been the city health officer. He has now held the position of local surgeon for the Northern Pacific railroad twenty-five years. Aside from his professional duties, Dr. Dampier is identified with public interests as secretary and treasurer of the school board and as treasurer of the Building and Loan association. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a Shriner and Past Eminent Commander of the Crookston commandery and has been treasurer of the local chapter for over thirty years. He was a charter member of the Elks' lodge and has served as treasurer of that order for a number of years.

Harvey W. Misner

This enterprising and pi'ogressive young business man, who is a leader among the business men of his generation and circle, and the present capable and popular mayor of Crookston, is a native of Polk county and was reared among its people. He is wholly a product of the county and all the credit for business capacity, good citizenship and administrative ability in office he enjoys in such large measure reflects back upon the county, of whose residents he is a fair type and good representative.

Mr. Misuer was born at Euclid, this county, July 10, 1883, the son of the late Harvey C. Misuer, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume. The son began. his education in the district schools, continued it at the high school in Crookston, and completed it at Macalester college in St. Paul. He started his basiness career as a clerk in his father's general store at Euclid, and from 1904 to 1911 he was in the real estate business at Pasadena, California, but with a continuous longing to get back to Minnesota.

residence in Crookston. He then became manager of the Wheeler-Misner Loan company, of which he is also secretarj' and treasurer. In addition he is president of the Crookston Investment company and secretary of the Crookston Cordage company, and from March, 1913, to January, 1915, he was president of the Crookston Commercial club, of which he is still a director, as he is of the Northwestei'n Minnesota Fair Association.

In politics Mr. Misner has always been a Republican, but never neutral nor indifferent to the public welfare. In the fall of 1915 he was nominated for mayor of Crookston as the city's candidate, and he was elected by a handsome plurality over the regular Republican and Socialist nominees. In fraternal relations he is connected with the Order of Elks and is a Freemason of the Knights Templar degree. He is recognized as a first-class busin&ss man and a citizen of the best and most serviceable type. On June 12, 1906, he was united in marriage with Miss Ethel L. Scott, of Depere, Wisconsin.

Edward Peterson

A leader in business circles in Crookston and always Peterson, superintendent of the Crookston Waterat the front in every undertaking for the improve- works. Power and Light company, is a very useful ment of the city or the benefit of its residents, Edward citizen and a forceful factor in promoting the prog- ress and iniprovcmeiit of Polk county and all tlio country adjacent to it and tributary to its industrial, commercial, mercantile and social life.

Mr. Peterson was bom in Sweden August 7, 1860, the son of Peter and Anna Peterson, farmei-s in their native land and also in this country after their arrival here in 1882, when they took up their residence at what is now the thriving and progres.sive city of Thief River Falls. Their son Edward was twentytwo years old when the family came to the United States. He had completed his education in his native place, and was ready for any suitable opening he might find in his new home. He remained at Thief River Falls four years, then moved to Crookston in 1886 and accepted a position in the employ of the waterworks department.

In the course of a little while Mr. Peterson woi-ked his way up to the post of engineer for the company and some time afterward was appointed superintendent. He was elected treasurer of the company in

1892, and since then he has been practically in charge of all the operations of the department in the dual capacity of superintendent and treasurer. He was one of the organizers of the Crookston Building and Loan association ; is a director and president of the Crookston Cordage company, a director of the Electrical Development company, and chairman of the development committee of the Crookston Commercial club. He is also a member of the Crookston school board.

On January 1, 1888, Mr. Peterson was united iu marriage with Miss Hannah Andei"son, the nuptials being solemnized in Minneapolis. This Mi-s. Peterson died in 1892, and on August 22, 1894, Mr. Peterson contracted a second marriage, which united him with Miss Anna Pherson, of Chicago. They have eight children, Julia, Esther, Agnes Ethel, Albert Edward, Herbert K., Florence, Adeline and Paul, all of whom are still members of the parental family circle.

Edwin E. Lommen

Edwin E. Lommen, of Crookston, a prominent citizen and one of the early settlers of the coxinty, was born iu Winneshiek county, Iowa, February 9, 18.56, the son of Andere 0. and Sigrid (Hoyme) Lommen, natives of Norway. His father was a well known pioneer farmer in Iowa, having located on government land there in 1850, after living two years in Wisconsin. He was widely identified with the public activities of the time, was a member of the lower House of the Legislature and served in a number of local offices.

Edwin E. Lommen taught school at eighteen years of age and clerked iu a hardware store at Decorali, Iowa. In 1878 he came to Polk county and took up a Homestead claim five miles west of Crookston, on which he lived for 19 years, cultivating and improving his farm. Since locating iu Polk county he has been actively and prominently associated with the interests which have contributed to its progress a)id welfare. He has marked tlie rapid evolution, which has replaced the log cabin store, saloon, and temporary frame sliacks, which occupied the site of Crookston in 1878, with the thriving, progressive city of nine thousand inhabitants, with its brick blocks and paved .streets. No les-s remarkable has been the development of the county, which as an agricultural communitj^ ranks second to none in the State. In this development he feels a just pride in having taken part. Wliile living on his farm, he held various local offices and in 1S90 was elected to the State Senate and was a member of the legislative body during the sessions of 1891 and 189.3. Among the enactments for which he was responsible, there were two which directlj^ afFectetl his home county; the law reducing the salary of county officials, which has saved many thousand dollars anniially and the First Red River Valley drainage law, which carried an appropriation of $100,000 from the state and pro- vided for an additional contribution of $25,000 from the Great Northern railroad. This law made possible the construction of the first extensive ditches in the valley and has had far reaching results, in increasing the value of the land and the prosperity of the region. In 1898 he was elected Clerk of the District Court, which office he held four years. In 1894 he was candidate for lieutenant governor and in 1896 was candidate for Congi-ess on the Populist ticket, with the Democratic endorsement; but was defeated.

Mr. Lommen was cashier of the State Bank of Buxton for 7 years; but failing health caused his retirement, so he returned to Crookston in 1914, where he has been engaged in the real estate business, devoting some attention to his farming interests. He is a member of I. O. 0. F. and the M. W. A. fraternal organizations. He has been twice married. His first union was with Maria Olson in 1881. She is survived by their four children, Clarence E., a physician; Albei-t M., who resides in Grand Forks; Alice J., a teacher in the schools at Hatton, North Dakota, and Sidney N., a student at the N. D. U. In 1902 Mr. Lommen was married to Addie S. Sanaker, who had been previously manned and widowed. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Alex H. Dunlap, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Crookston, has been eminently connected with the medical profession of the county since 1882, when he first engaged in practice in Crookston. He was bom in Ontario, Canada, in 1857. His father, John Dunlap, was a native of Ontario and his wife, Julia (Ellis) Dunlap, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. John Dunlap was a lumber man and mill owner and lived in Canada throughout his life. His death and that of his wife, but a few houre later, occurred in 1905. Of their family of four sons and three daughters. Dr. Alex Dunlap is the only one who does not reside in Canada. He was reared in that country and received his early education in the public schools and then became a student in Queena College at Kingston. After graduating from that institution in 1875, he began to prepare himself for the medical profession, studying for a few months under Dr. Lafferty of Kingston and in the winter of the same year entered McGill college. In 1882 he received his degree and came to Crookston where he has continued to successfully pursue his professional duties and has received an extensive patronage as a general practitioner. In the length of time of his services as a physician, he now ranks third among the local members of his profession and the many able attainments of his career have won him the respect and confidence of his colleagues. No small part of his success is due to years of keen study and a constant alertness to the rapid advances made in medical discoveries. Dr. Dunlap has availed himself of the advantages of post graduate work, each year, either in New York clinics or at McGill college. He is a member of the Red River Valley Medical association and of the American Medical association. Aside from his private practice, Dr. Dunlap held the position of local surgeon for the Great Northern railroad for several years. He was married in 1912 to Annie Bolie, who is a native of Minnesota. Dr. Dunlap is a member of the Masonic order.

Charles P. Skoug

Charles F. Skoug, postmaster of Crookston, is a native of Norway, bom at Frederickstadt in 1870 and came with his parents to this country when ten years of age. He is the son of Theo. J. and Caroline (Mathesian) Skoug, who located in Lyon county, Minnesota, in 1880. Here the father entered upon the laborious devulopmeiit of uew laud aud eugaged in farming in the State for a number of years and reared a family of two sons and four daughters. Both parents are now living and reside in Seattle, Washington. Charles Skoug assisted his father on the homestead for several years aud at the age of sixteen, embarked upon his eommereial career as a salesman of farm machinery, his enterprise and natural ability winning him ready success aud he continued iu this occupation for seventeen years, traveling over all the western states and building up a prosperous trade. In 1907 lie located in Crookston, where he is one of the influential and progressive citizens. He has become Avidely known over the state through his prominent services in the political field and in 1896 gave conspicuous service as the leader of the Democratic campaigu, his work evincing marked executive ability and a natural political sense. lie has also represented the county in a number of conventions. In June, 191?,, he was appointed postmaster and has discharged the duties of his position with competency and satisfaction to the patrons. In fraternal circles, he is a well knowii and popular member of the Masonic order, the Elks and the United Commercial Travelers. His marriage to Anna ]\I. Nordic, a resident of Minnesota, was solemnized June 20, 1895. She died in Crookston, April 19, 1914, leaving three children, Kennth M., Vivian and Viola A. Mr. Skoug was married a second time on August 21, 1915, to Mrs. Elizabeth (Lindsley) Lundberg, the widow of Magnus Lundberg. Mrs. Skoug was born in Missouri but spent her earl}' life in St. Paul. They make their home in Crookston.

Peter M. Ringdal, of Crookston, prominent business man and distinguished citizen, is a native of Minnesota, born in Goodhue county iu 1861. He was reared on a farm where he remained until he was nineteen years of age. He then entered the railroad and express business and continued in this occupation until 1890. During this time, steady application to his work and intelligent study of its different phases, eminently fitted him for responsible positions later and enabled him to render valuable service to the state. He located in Crookston in 1888. In 1894 he entered public sendee as state senator, elected on the Populist party ticket. Since that time he has continued to be actively identified with public affairs and has accomplished much toward securing better and more efficient legislation. As senator, he spent a busy term and his principal efforts were directed toward better control of common carriers and the reduction of transportation rates, although this was some years before the attention of the general publi(! had been aroused to the encroachments of corporations. He also originated and pushed to a successful conclusion, the movement which resulted in the establishment, in 1896, of the State Experiment station at Crookston. This station has since been converted into a state agricultural school. He favored more efficacious methods in the State Labor bureau and was instnimental in reorganizing the department to that purpose. In 1898 he received a unanimous renominatiou for state senator but withdrew from tlie legislative ticket to acept an unanimous nomination for congress by the Peoples aud Democratic parties, but was defeated in the election. In 1899 he was appointed a member of State Railroad and Warehouse commission and worked with this commission for two years, during which time considerable progress was made in i-educing and equalizing railroad rates and removing discriminations. He was made a member of the State Board of Control in January, 1907, and continued to serve in this office for a tenn of six years. Mr. Ringdal is the present register of the United States land office at Crookston, having been appointed to this position in January, 1914. In 1912 he was honored by the Democratic citizens of the state with the nomination for governor. In public service and in the commercial world, his integrity and the power to accomplish that which is based on his earnest convictions, have won the respect of all men. He has always been a radical democrat and faithful supporter of the principles of democracy, favoring all measures aimed at the equalizing of opportunity and the destruction of monopoly and special privilege. He is prominently associated with the business interests of the city as pi'esident of the Crookston Granite company and of the Polk County State bank, a sketch of which is found in this work. Mr. Ringdal was married in 1885 to Mary J. Shirley.

James P. O'Connell

James P. 0 'Council, receiver at the United States land office at Crookston. is a native of jMinnesota, born in Wright county, July 18, 1873, the son of William and Mary (Haley) O'Connell, pioneer settlers of the state. They were natives of Ireland and were married in New York, after coming to this country. In 1858 they came to Minnesota and William O'Connell located on a government claim in Wright county where he engaged in the constructive work of the frontier farmer, clearing the wild land and continuing the improvement of it until his death, March 13, 1874. The death of his wife occurred in 1908 and they are survived by seven childi-en; the six sons of the family all residing in the State. James P. O'Connell, bom in the early days of the development of the country, has witnessed the many stages of its progress and has taken a keen interest in the obseiwation of the forces which have so rapidly forced the evolution of the primitive wilderness into a popiilated and productive agricultural region. He remained on the homestead in Wright county until nineteen years of age, meanwhile attending the public schools and then became a telegraph operator on the Great Northern railroad. After three years of able service in this position, he was appointed station agent for the road at Warren, Minnesota, and continued in this capacity for sixteen years. In 1914 he was made receiver at the government land office at Crookston, a position for which his efficient and satisfactory service has proven him eminently fitted. Mr. O'Connell has always given his active interests to the affairs of the Democratic party and in fraternal circles, is a well known member of the Elk lodge. His marriage to Loui.se Flannigan was solemnized at Waverly, in 1900. She, like her husband, is a native of Minnesota, born at Watertown. They have three children, James, Sydnie Georgiana and Paul J. Mr. O'Connell and his family are members of the Catholic church.

Gunder Stenerson

Gunder Stenerson, of Erskine, a prominent lumberman of the northwest, is identified with two wellknown lumber companies, as manager of the company of Stenerson Brothers, lumber dealers and contractors, and president of Stenerson Lumber corporation. He is a native of Norway, bom August 1, 1864, and came to this country, accompanied by his brother, Sven Stenerson, in 1886. They worked during one winter county, Wisconsin, where they were employed in the lumber camps and at farm labor. In 1887 they were joined by the third brother, Knute Stenerson, and in the following year the three brothers removed to Minnesota. Being acquainted with the locality of Pelican Rapids through friends and relatives, who resided there, they bought eighty acres of timber land near that place. The land was covered with hardwood and with an expenditure of about four hundred dol- lars they installed a portable sawiaill ami secured some pine timber, and from this modest start, with notable management and business ability, they have built one of the important lumber industries and corporations of northern Minnesota. In 1892 the Stenerson brothei-s, with Evan Olegaard, established the Olegaard & Stenerson company, with a lumber yard at Erskine. In 1890 Stenerson brothers started a yard at Pelican Rapids, and later bought the other yards at Mentor, Felton and Borup. Sven Stenerson was a carpenter by trade and through his extensive operations as a contractor and builder in Pelican Rapids added this business to the company's interests. Upon the organization of the company, Gunder Stenerson was made manager and put in charge of the Erskine yards and Knute Stenerson retained the direction of their interests at Pelican Rapids, and this arrangement has continued to the present time. In 1895 ]\Ir. Olegaard withdrew from the firm and the company of Stenerson Brothers was formed, and has enjoyed a steadily growing trade, prospering in all its enterprises, in the lumber business and as building contractors, a present important contract being the erection of a United Lutheran church at Erskine at an estimated cost of some ten thousand dollars. The yard at Mentor had been sold and was later rebought. As operated at present, the yards are located at Pelican Rapids, Erskine and Mentor, and the company is owned by Gunder Stenerson and Knute Stenerson, Sven Stenerson having sold his interest in 1913 and returned to Norway, where he purchased the old family home and made it his permanent residence.

The Stenerson Lumbt-r company was incorporated with a capital of $100,000 and conducts an extensive business through its yards at Earhardt, Halstad and various other places. Gunder Stenerson is the president of the company, Knute Stenerson vice president and L. I. Grina secretary, treasurer and manager. The other stockholders are Sven Stenerson, Melvin Grina, the manager of the yard at Earhardt ; Conrad Grina, local manager at Borup, and Ole Grina, who is in charge of the branch oiifice at Halstad. Gunder Stenereon is widely known through his successful association with the various important business interests of his busy career and as business man and citizen is highly esteemed by all, and aside from his active interest and support of public endeavor has given valuable service in local office, as mayor and member of the school board and is a present member of the town council. In 1907 he returned to his native land for a visit, but has continued to make his home at Erskine since 1892, spending the summer months at his cottage on Lake Sarah, a few miles distant. lie was married in 1894 to Betsy Torgeson, daughter of Thomas Torgeson, a pioneer of the Thirteen Towns, who opened the first hotel in Erskine in 1888 and is now living on his farm, one mile south of the village. Five children were bom to Mr. Stenerson and his wife, four of whom, Ragna, Ingeman, Christine and Gordon, are now living. A daughter, Corrine, died in early childhood. They are members of the Synod Lutheran church, where Mr. Stenerson gives active service as treasurer.

Martin O'Brien

Martin O'Brien, of Crookston, a prominent attorney and eminent citizen of the state, was boni in Boone county, Illinois, October 15, 1867. He is the son of Michael and Mary (Tighe) O'Brien, who were natives of Ireland. Michael O'Brien was born in county Mayo and was married to Mary Tighe in her native county of Sligo. They came to this country about 1850, locating in Boone county, Illinois, where he followed his trade of stone mason. They continued to make their home here until their death. Seven children survive them and three of the sons reside in Crookston. Martin O'Brien was reared in his native state and received his early education in the county schools. After graduating from the high school at Belvidere, Illinois, he began the study of law in the office of Judge R. W. Wright, a pioneer lawyer of Boone county. In June, 1889, he was admitted to the bar and located immediately in Crookston and began the practice of law. He has engaged in the general practice of his profession and from the inception of his career has met witli noteworthy success, winning the regard and approbation of his legal associates. For two years he was a member of the firm of Wilkinson, Schmidt & O'Brien in partnership with A. C. Wilkinson and P. C. Schmidt. Since leavuig this firm he has conducted an independent practice. Mr. O'Brien is a member of the Democratic party and is extensively identified with the political affaii-s of the state. He has been actively interested in many of the important conventions, serving as delegate at large in national convention of 1908 and district delegate to the national convention of 1912 and was made the Minnesota member of the committee on resolutions in both national conventions. He was elected chairman of the state democratic committee in 1912 and served in this office until his professional duties necessitated his resignation and forced him to decline re-election. Whereupon he was elected vice chairman and made a member of the executive committee. He is at present city attorney of Crookston, having served in that office five terms. His administration of public matters has been characterized by the same display of integrity and ability that has marked his private legal affairs. He has also served the county in the capacity of assistant to the county attorney in important matters of litigation, in which the county was interested. He has been E. R. of the Crookston Lodge P. B. 0. E. and a member of the Grand Lodge of that order. He served for five years as member national board of Auditors, M. W. of A. He was man-ied in Minneapolis, in 1904, to Elizabeth Mealia, who is a native of Minnesota. They have three children, Marion, John and James.

Arthur A. Miller

Arthur A. Miller, of Crookston, well-known lawyer and identified with the banking interests of the northwest, was bom in Rock county, Wisconsin, September 16, 1851. His parents, Samuel and Sophia (Reid) Miller, were natives of Nova Scotia and came to Wisconsin in 1851. Here Samuel Miller located on timber land and began the arduous task of clearing and cultivating this tract. He devoted the remainder of his life to his farm and developed a fine property. His death occurred in 1888 and that of his wife in 1914. Three children survive them, a daughter, who is the present owner of the old homestead; a son, residing at Harvard, 111., and Arthur A. Arthur A. Miller was reared on his father's farm and attended the schools at Milton, Wis., where he graduated. He then entered the educational field and spent eight years teaching in the schools of his native state. But his ambitions were centered in the legal profession and in 1882, he began the study of law. The following year he was admitted to the bar and located in Fargo, N. D. After five years of successful practice in that city, he formed a partnership with Mr. Foote and the new firm of Miller & Foote was established at Crookston in 1888, where they have enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. As a lawyer, Mr. Miller has won the respect and confidence of his professional associates. Aside from his legal activities he has been prominently identified with the growth of the financial institutions of this region. In these interests, he is associated with his law partner, Mr. Foote. In 1906 they bought the controlling interest in the Scandia American State bank. Other banks in which they own shares are the First National of Cass Lake, the Citizen State of Mcintosh, the First State bank at Thief River Falls, the First National of Warren and the First National bank of Crookston. Mr. Miller also has extensive land interests, owning several thousand acres of farm land. His political affiliations are with the Republican party and altlio he has evaded active participation in the political arena he has faithfully discharged the duties of good citizenship. As a pioneer citizen of Polk county, he has been honorably associated with its progress and prosperity. His marriage to Alice L. Page of Rock county, Wis., occurred in 1877. Four children have been born to this union, Albert A., who died in 1891, Lucius S.,

Annie M., who is the wife of Harry L. ]Mar.sh of Crookston; and Harold P. Mr. Miller is a thirtysecond degree Mason, a Shriuer and member of the Commandery. He is also a member of the State Historical society of Minnesota. Mr. Miller and his family are communicants in the Congregational church of Crookston.

G. 0. Hage, cashier of the Polk County State bank of Crookston, is a native of the state, bom in Norman county. May 7, 1882. He is the son of Ole R. and Martha B. (Birkland) Hage, who came to this country from Norway in 1866, settling in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and as pioneer farmers of the state are identified with its early history and development. They lived for a number of years in Norman county and then removed to Crookston, which is their present home. G. 0. Hage was reared on his father's farm in Norman county and received his early education in the country schools. He then entered Crookston college and after three years of study in that institution, spent one year in the University of North Dakota. After leaving the university he engaged for a time in clerical work in Crookston and then became interested in the real estate business which he operated with marked success. During this time he also served as assistant clerk for the state legislature for two sessions. Mr. Hage was among the first to promote the establishment of the new bank and it was largely through his unfailing interest and efforts together with P. M. Ringdal that the organization of this successful enterprise was cidmiiiated in 1913 and since that time he has been associated with its management as cashier and director. As business man and citizen, Mr. Hage is actively interested in the advancement of the general welfare and prosperity. He is a member of the Elk lodge. He was man'ied in June, 1911, to Nellie Christianson, daughter of N. Christianson, a pioneer of Polk county. They have one child Norma. Mr. Hage and his family are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Crookston.

Louis Gonyea, of Crookston, well known business man and ex -sheriff, has been prominently identified with the history of the county since its early settlement. He was born in Old-Town, Penobscot county, Maine, March 10, 1845, the son of Henry and Flora (Betters) Gonyea, who were natives of the province ' of Quebec, Canada. Henry Gonyea engaged in the milling business and for sometime worked in the Maine pineries. In 1874 he went to Minneapolis and ten years later removed to Crookston, where the deaths of himself and wife occurred at the home of their son, Louis Gonj'ea. The latter was reared in his native state and when eighteen years of age enlisted in Company G of the Second Maine cavalry and saw active service during the remaining two years of the Civil war. His regiment was detailed to the gulf campaign and was under the command of General Butler. After receiving his honorable discharge in 1865, IVIr. Gonyea returned to Maine and four years later went to Saginaw, Michigan, where he remained until 1871 when he continued his westward journey and located in Minneapolis, entering the employ of Caleb Dorr in the Mississippi and Rum River Boom company. In 1878 he came to Crookston, then a small pioneer village, and entei'ed a claim on government laud. For several years he engaged in the development of his land and farming interests, meanwhile working for a time with a milling company on the Red river. As a citizen, Mr. Gonyea has been notably associated with the growth of public interests and gave his first official service as a member of the police force of Crookston, which was organized in 1884. He remained on the force for fourteen years and was chief of police for eleven years. In 19G1 he was appointed deputy sheriff under E. J. Sullivan and in 1905 was elected to the office of sheriff and continued to give efficient service during two terms. Subsequently he spent some time traveling tlirough the western states and returned to

Crookston to open a real estate office, conducting extensive land transactions which have made the Gonyea Land company one of the prosperous business organizations of the county. During the many years of his useful career, as soldier, pioneer citizen and successful business man, Mr. Gonyea has earned the esteem and confidence of all for his many able services. He was married in Minneapolis, in 1873 to Olivia Darwin, who was a native of Canada. Her death occurred in 1906. Eleven children were born to this union, five of whom are now living, Lillian, the wife of Mr. Sandberg of Crookston; Louis J., who resides in Washington; Mamie, who married Mr. C. Langley and lives in Idaho, Alexander C, and George W., who are residents of Crookston. LIr. Gonyea is a meniber of the Republican party and of the Elks lodge.

Hon. A. D. Stephens

Hon. A. D. Stephens, president of the Merchants' National Bank of Crookston, former mayor of Crookston and state senator, is a typical representative of its best and most serviceable citizenship. He has lived in Crookston continuously for more than thirty . years, and has passed the whole of his life in Minnesota to the present time.

Mr. Stephens was born in Carver county, this state, in 1855, a son of Lars and Ilannalr (Peterson) Stephens, natives of Swieden, where they were reared, educated and married. The father came to the United States in 1851 and the mother in 1853. They located in Carver county, Minnesota, in 1854, and were among the pioneers of that county, clearing a farm there from the wilderness, and helping to lay the foundations of the county's industrial, civil, social and educational institutions. The father filled with credit to himself and benefit to the county several different local offices, and stood high in the regard of the people. He died in Kandiyohi county a number of years ago. The mother is still living and is now ninety-seven years of age.

A. D. Stephens was reared and educated in Carver county in part, completing his academic course at Gustavus Adolphus College. After leaving college he passed some years in clerking, as a salesman on the road and in other occupations, and in 1880 located at Fisher, Polk county, where he engaged in general merchandising. In 1884 he took up his residence in Crookston as the representative of the Corbin Banking company. In 1891 he purchased an interest in the Merchants National Bank of Crookston, of which he became president after serving the bank some time as cashier. The bank has grown in patronage and influence under his careful management, keeping progress with the current of events and up to date at all times in all departments and features of its business. It is held to be one of the safest, soundest and most satisfactory banks of its rank in the Northwest. Mr. Stephens is interested also in several other banks in Polk county and other places in Minnesota. He is one of the directors of the Scandinavian- American Bank of Minneapolis and president of a bank in Montana.

The piil)lif affairs of liis city, county, state and country haw always receivetl careful, studious and serviceable attention from Mi". Stephens, and he has taken an active part in them. He served as mayor of Crookston in 1893 and again in 1900. In 1902 he was elected a member of the state senate, and during his service in that body he was the chief instrument in obtaining the location of the Northwestern School of Agriculture at Crook.ston. This institution has done a great work in promoting advanced farming in the northwestern i)art of the state.

Mr. Stephens is a public speaker of ability, eloquence and force, and is in frequent demand for public addresses of various kind.s. He has been particularly successful in political speeches in many campaigns, advocating and defending the principles and candidates of the Republican party, to which he has always belonged and in which he has long been prominent. He has been strongly l)rought forward by his friends as the candidate of that party for the governorship of the state at different times and was a delegate to the Chicago Repul)lican National convention of 1904 which nominated Theodore Roosevelt for the Presidency, and in the campaign which followed he urged Mr. Roosevelt's el(>ction with great fei-vor and effect.

Even wlien out of office Mr. Stephens has devoted considerable activity to i)romotiiig tlie welfare of the state and its public institutions. He was the leading force in bringing about improved methods of administration at tile State Reformatory for Boys at Red AVing. He preferred charges before the legislature against the management of that institution, and the investigation that followed resulted in the abolition of corporal punishment there and other reforms in the discipline and government of the institution.

In 1878 Mr. Stephens was united in marriage with Miss Christie Cameron, a native of Canada. They have two sons, Marcus, Merriam and one daughter Andrea. The sons are employed in the Merchants National Bank of Crookston and Miss Andrea is attending school. Fraternally their father is a member of the Masonic Order, the Order of Elks and the Swedish Order of Vass.

During his service in the senate he introduced the bill which provided for the payment of inmates of state penal institutions for labor performed. The first law of its kind in the world and on which the state is now paying from $75,000 to $80,000 per annum, and which has worked wondrous good among the inmates. Is also a member of State Iiiiinigratioii board serving second term.

Thomas A. Harris

Thomas A. Harris, of Crookston, a well known citizen and pioneer, has been a resident of that city since 1877 and actively associat-ed' with the history of its growth and progress. Pie is the son of George P. Harris, a native of Ireland and Jane (Burns) Harris, who was born in New York state. George P. Harris was a clei'gj'man of tlie Methodist Episcopal church and came to Canada to undertake inissionarj' work. He gave eminent service in this field and became the presiding elder of the district of upper Canada. In 1861 he removed to Waba.sha county, Minnesota and soon afterwards, enlisted in Company I of the Fii-st Minnesota mounted rangers and re-enlisted a year later in Company D, Second Minnesota cavalry, serving in the Indian wars of the northwest during four years and took part in all the engagements of the uprising of 1862. His son, John Harris, was also active in the subjection of the insurrections of that year. George Harris was one of those, who by integrity of character and noble service lay the foundations for the progress of civilization. His death occurred in California and that of his wife in Washington. Their two sons .survive them ; John Harris now residing in Spokane. Thomas A. Harris was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1848 and came to Minnesota with his father when a lad of tliirteeii. In 1877 he located in Crookston, then but a village of a few log cabins and has pursued a long and honorable career as business man and citizen and enjoys the respect and esteem of all for his many worthy services. He has conducted an extensive business as a contractor for the moving of buildings and also has farming interests in the county. He is a member of the Republican party and has been honored with several public offices, giving efficient service as a member of the city council for ten years and as deputy sheriff. Also served as first justice of the peace and assessor of Crookston in 1878-79. Mr.

Harris is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted at the age of seventeen in Company I of the First Minnesota battalion of infantry and serving with his regiment in Virginia during the last few months of the war. He was married in 1870 to Adelaide L. Gordon, who is a native of Michigan. Five children were born to them, of whom the eldest son, Albert G. Harris, is dead. The surviving members of the family are, Frederick B., Bruce F., Arthur, Elmer D. and Ethel A. Mr. Harris is a member of the Elk fraternity.

Henry 0. Balstad

Henry 0. Balstad, stock farmer and well known citizen of Sletten township, is a native of Minnesota, born at Fergus Falls, June 2, 1886, the son of K. 0. Balstad and Gina (Weiby) Balstad. When he was nine years of age his father located on a farm in Sletten township and here Henry Balstad was reared and received his early training. He decided to devote his attention to farming and to the practical experience which he had already attained, he added two years of study in the State Agricultural college at St. Anthony Park, in preparation for his work. He has always lieen associated with his father in his business operations and transactions and like his father, devotes his farming interests to the stock business. His farm of one hundred and sixty acres is in section twenty-eight of Sletten township and he is using three hundred and twenty acres in his farming operations. He is breeding Hereford stock and grazing and feeding cattle for the market. Mr. Balstad is one of the younger farmers who are capably carrying on the development of the county, increasing the prosperity established by the thrifty pioneers. Able and intelligent management and alei'tness to anything which will promote the efficiency of his work combine to render him successful in all imdertakings. He with his father were among the first to build silos in the township. Aside from his private interests, Mr. Balstad finds time to consider matters of public moment and welfare and serves as clerk of the school board. He was married to Olga Olson who was a resident of Sletten township.

H. L. Larson, a prominent manufacturer and exmayor of Crookston, is a native of Norway, born near Bergen, December 11, 1864, the son of Ole M. and Helen Larson. The father engaged in farming in age, in company with a sister and located at St. Peter, where he worked as a laborer for a time and then secured employment with an uncle in a factory. He later removed to St. Paul, where his older brother his native land during his lifetime and the mother was living and worked at the carpenter trade with still resides at the old home. Of their family of him, for several years and then engaged in the conseven children, four emigrated to America, H. L. tracting business at Little Falls, enjoying an ex- Larson came to Minnesota when seventeen years of tensive trade and erecting many of the more sub- stantial liomes of that city. Subsequently he removed liis coutraeting business to Ada, in Norman county, where he remained for nine years. He then located in Crookston and has since been notably associated with the business interests of that city. During the first four years of liis residence, he continued liis lucrative operations as a contractor and then established a manufacturing plant for the production of sash door and store and office fixtures. This enterprise has become one of the leading industries of the city and commands a steadily growing trade. As a successful business man and prominent citizen, ^Ir. Larson enjoys the esteem and confidence of his business associates and fellow citizens and was honored with public office in 1911, when lie was elected mayor, with the additional distinction of being the only mayor ever elected on the socialist ticket in this part of the State, and won the approval of his constituents for his competent executive sendee. He was married in 1886 to Mary Johnson, whose death occurred in 1900. Three children were born to this union, all of whom reside in Crookston, Lilly, who was married to Mr. Waade ; John and Elmer. Mr. Lai-son contracted a second marriage in 1915 with Mrs. Lee, who was a widow. In social organizations, he is affiliated with the Sons of Norway and the order of Eagles and Sc-andinavian Workmen Association.

Anton Jensen

Anton Jensen, of Mcintosh, proprietor of the Mcintosh Flour mills and of the electric light plant, is a native of Denmark, born July 7, 1857, and came to this country when six years of age, with his parents. They located in Waupaca, coiinty, Wisconsin, and there Anton Jensen grew to manhood. In 1880 he came to Polk county and took a homestead claim four miles east of Fertile and spent the next few years developing his land and also worked as a harvester and in other farm woi'k. In the fall of 1883 he went to Crookston and in the following year entered upon his first venture in the commercial world, opening a general store at Valley and operating the postoffice in conjunction with it. This enterprise which was established with a small capital met with a marked success, represented by an increase to a $4,000 stock and under able management was soon commanding an annual trade of $8,000. In 1893, Mr. Jensen sold the store and removed to Mcintosh, having bought, at some time previous a cpiarter interest in the flour mills at that place and has continued to be identified with this industry as manager and as sole proprietor since 1897, when he bought the interests of the other shareholders. The mills, one of the leading business institutions of that region, were erected in 1889 by the J. P. Johnson company, with an investment of some twelve thousand dollars, and are operated by the roller process, with the capacity for handling seventyfive barrels per day. Mr. Jensen has enlarged the original building and has installed machinery for the milling of rye and buckwheat; the plant now representing a capital of about twenty tliousand dollars. He conducts a custom and exchange business with an extensive patronage in the surrounding territory and as a grain dealer, ships many car loads of wheat. In the mercantile trade, his I X L brand of flour has attained a high reputation among the retailers. In 1900, he installed the electric light plant, using the mill power to operate the machinery, which required an investment of $5,000. This enterprising undertaking received the ready approval and support of the citizens of Mcintosh and the company, which is managed by William Jensen, supplies lights for the streets and homes. Aside from his business activities, Mr. Jen.sen has given some attention to agricultural pursuits and makes his home on his farm which adjoins the town, the residence standing within the city limits. He also owns a quarter section of farm land north east of Mcintosh and two hundred acres of swamp land wliich he is reclaiming with drainage and developing. During the many years of his career in the county, Mr. Jensen has become widely known as a successful business man and public spirited citizen and has been prominently associated with the public interests of the community, giving active service in various offices, as a member of the school board and of the town council and was president of the latter body for several terms. He is a member of the Lutheran church and of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America. He was married, at Fertile, in 1884, to Nicoliue Hendricks, of Nicollet county, Minn. They have a family of six sons and one daughter, Arthur C, who is employed in a bank in North Dakota ; Alvin H., who lives at Trail and is in the lumber business; George E., the manager of the home farm and Clara S., Eraest C, Ralph W., and Vernon B., all of whom make their home with their parents.

E. E. Hansen, superintendent of the Mcintosh public schools, was born at Thor, Humboldt county, Iowa, on November 19, 1880. He was reared on a farm and received his preparatory education in tlie country schools, later matriculating at St. Olaf coUege, at Northfield, Minn., where he graduated iu 1909, with the degree of bachelor of arts. He immediately entered the teaching profession and taught iu the graded schools at Donaldson, Minn. In 1911, he came to Polk county, to accept the position of superintendent of the graded school at Fisher and continued to give competent service there until 19].'], when he taught at Henning in Ottertail county and in the next year, returned to this county to assume the superintendeney of the schools at Mcintosh. This is one of the notable educational institutions of the county, a record of its achievements being found elsewhere in this work, and its direction entails one of the most responsible pedagogical positions in the county, for which Mr. Hansen has proven himself eminently fitted. His rapid promotion in his vocation attests to his ability and marks him for further distinction in his profession. His theories of education are broad and peculiarly adapted to the direction of an agricultural and vocational school and he considers a healthy interest in athletics, a beneficial phase of school activity. He is himself an out of door sportsman and enjoys his favorite recreation of fishing. Mr. Hansen is an accomplished saxophone player, having been a member of the band of St. Olaf college, which made a tour of the Scandinavian counties in 1906 and in 1909, played a week's engagement at the Alaskan Exposition at Seattle. He was married in 1915, in Ottertail county, to Edna Evanson, a former teacher at Henning. She is a native of Seattle and was educated in the Nonnal school at Moorhead and before her marriage, had been successfully engaged in the teaching profession.

Sumner Chesly Bagley

Sumner Chesly Bagley, prominent lumberman and well-known farmer of Polk county, was born at Argyle, Maine, June 1, 1831, and died at his home near Fosston, July 27, 1914. Throughout the greater part of a long and active career he engaged in the lumber business, where his wide experience and native ability brought him deserved success. In 1860 he left Maine and went to California, where he remained for nine years occupied in lumber and mining projects. He came to Minnesota in 1870 and became associated with T. B. Walker of Minneapolis in the lumber business, Mr. Bagley taking charge of large logging contracts. He operated on the Clearwater and Mississippi rivers, and got out about thirty million feet of timber during each winter season. During the summer months he took contracts with the railroads for grading and em- ployed some two luindred men the year aroinul, with an equipment of one hundred teams which he owned. He built part of the grade on the Duluth division of the Great Northern railroad and engaged in similar work in Montana. Soon after coming to Jlinnesota he took a homestead claim in section 17 in Rosebud township and made this farm his home throughout the remainder of his life. "When failing health neeessitated his retirement from the contracting business he turned his entire attention to his farming interests, which comprised 1,000 acres. He later sold 200 acres from his estate. Mr. Bagley was a man whose influence was to be felt back of any cause which enlisted his allegiance. He was actively identified with matters of public concern and interested in the growth and development of Fosston. The naming of the village of Bagley stands as a memorial to his citizen- .sliip. He was a member of the Republican party, and although he evaded political honors, he gave his efforts tVecly to promote its success. lie was possessed of great individuality and was strong in his convictions; a great lover of nature in all its forms, he refused to see life taken from animals, saying that "one should not take that which could not be restored." He took the keenest enjoyment in the life of the woods and lakes and camp life in the wilderness was one of his favorite recreations. He was married in Argyle, Maine, to Lydia Fernald. Three years after his marriage his wife died, leaving two sons, James, who is in the government employ in Maine, and Alfred, engaged in the manufacture of wooden articles at Bemidji, Minnesota. In 1897 Mr. Bagley was married to Gertrude Nelson, a native of Norway, who came with her parents to this country and located at Crookston. No children were born to this union and Mi-s. Bagley has taken her nephew, Lilmer Tygson, into her home.

Allan J. McKinnon, a prominent business man and pioneer manufacturer of Crookston, was born near Montreal, Canada, on May 29, 1858. He is the son of Archibald and Jeanette (Gillis) McKinnon, natives of Inverness, Scotland, who emigrated to Canada in 1854. Allan McKinnon is one of five brothers who have been eminently identified with history of Ci'ookston since its early daj's. He was reared in Canada, where he attended the public schools until he was eighteen years of age when he came to the United States and for three years worked at St. Croix, Wisconsin, learning the trade of wagon maker. In 1879 he came to Crookston where his brother Alexander McKinnon had opened a wagon and carriage shop and in the following year, John R. McKinnon joined them in their business operations. This was the first industry of the kind in the county and they engaged in the manufacture of a full line of wagons, carriages and sleighs, finding a ready market in the surrounding territory and building up an extensive trade that kept pace with rapid settlement and development of the town and county. In 1888, Alexander McKinnon retired from the company and the firm was dis.solved, Allan J. McKinnon and Archie McKinnon a.s.suming entire cliarge of the business, which has met with steady prosperity under his management. The selling of farm implements was added to the manufacturing enterprise and this has become the principal activity, although Mr. Mc- Kinnon still engages in manufacturing to some extent. As a successful business man and pioneer citizen, Mr. McKinnon is popularly known throughout the county and is liighly respected by all his associates. He is a member of the Democratic party and has been honored with various positions of public trust and has been prominently identified with the direction of city affairs as mayor and as a member of the city council for twelve yeara. He also served for three terms on the library board. He is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. McKinnon was married in

1888 to Rose M. Powers, of Canada, and they have five children, Archie, John, Allan, Donald and Annie. In fraternal organizations, he is affiliated with the

Paul K. Fossbakken

Paul K. Fosshakken, for many years a prominent farmer of Brandsvold township, was a native of Norway, bom October 20, 1860. In 1879, at the age of nineteen he was married to Ellen Dalen and soon afterwards came to this country to find a home on western land. He spent two years in Ottertail county, Minn., where he had a farm of forty acres. In 1885 he came to Polk county and took a homestead in Brandsvold township, six miles north of Fosston; the southeast quarter of section 10. He later Iwught another tract of land, increasing his farm to two hundred and eighty acres, all but fifty of which, he cleared and put under cultivation. With unceasing industry and skillful effort he developed this plat into one of the finest fanns and most attractive country homes in the county. He devoted his best interests to this work and took a just pride in his achievements. A county ditch crosses the farm and with the exception of the barn all of the present buildings, which occupy a pleasant situation, a quarter of a mile removed from the public highway, were erected bj' him. He kept a large herd of dairy cows and was a stockholder in cooperative creamery at Olga. In 1908, his bam burned and during his heroic efforts to save the other buildings, he suffered injuries which resulted in his death on February 25, 1908. He did his share toward founding the agricultural prosperity of the county and is gratefully remembered by its citizens as a worthy pioneer of Brandsvold township. He was a member of the Republican party and an efficient member of the school board for several years. He was a faithful supporter of the United Lutheran church at Brandsvoid. Mr. Fosshakken wa«4 twice man-ied. Five children were born to the first union, MoUie, who is a teacher in the Polk county schools, Cliristopher, Lewis, Ida and Ella. His second marriage was with Anna Hansel, who survives her husband. They had four children, Elmer, Ira, Ruth and Esther, all living at Dalton, Minn. The five older children are the present owners and managers of the Fos.sbakken homestead and are capably advancing the interests of the estate which their father founded. They have all attended the agricultural college at Crookston and their farming enterprises are flourishing under progressive and able management. The place is well equipped with a silo, with a capacity of one hundred tons, a fine well and tank, a gas engine and windmill. In 1912 they began to breed Holstein cattle and have four head of registered stock and a large herd of blooded cattle. They engage in the dairy business and sell their produce to the Fosston creamery, and are further interested in the stock business in the raising of pure bred Yorkshire hogs. The Fosshakken family are members of the United Lutheran church at Brandsvold.

Successful in all departments of his private business and displaying commendable energy, progressiveness and judgment in the administration of public affairs, in which he has been engaged for some years in various capacities, John D. MacPhee, former mayor of Crookston and present county commissioner from the third district, is a typical representative of the citizenship of this section and creditable alike to it and to American manhood in general. He was bom in Ontario, Canada, May 14, 1855, the son of

John and Hester (Galbraith) MaePhee, natives of Scotland who emigrated to Canada in 1847. They were farmers iu their native land and held to the oceupation of their youth in their new home, whui'e the mother died in 1894 and the father in 19((:5. Their offspring numbered six, four sons and two daughters. The parents were highly respected where they were known for their genuine wortli.

John D. MauPhee grew to manhood in Canada and was engaged in farming there until 1879, when he came to the Red River valley and took ui> his residence in I'olk county. From the time of his arrivMl in this county he has been actively employed in farming, having been manager of the Loekhart farm of 6,000 acres for seventeen years and since the end of that period in charge of several farms of his own in Polk county.

Although his private affairs have been exacting iu their requirements at all times, Mr. MacPhee has always taken an active and leading part in local public affairs also. He served in the city council of Crookstou for some time, and was mayor of the city from Sept., 1906, to Jan. 1st, 1910, being the first mayor under the new city charter. Since 1912 he has been a memlier of the board of county commissioners. Politically he is a Republican. Fraternally he is a Freemason and a member of the Order of Elks. He is widely known in this part of the country and everj'where he is highly respected. In 1888 he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Cheney, a native of Bellevue, Jackson county, Iowa. They liave one child, their daughter Lucy.

Andrew Peterson

Andrew Peterson, a well known business man of Mcintosh, has been a resident of the county since 1883, when he located on land in Hill River township. He was born in Sweden, August 8, 1860, and there grew to manhood, apprenticing himself to the trade of cabinet maker and engaged in that work until 1881 when he came to the Ignited States. He settled in North Dakota and took a preemption claim near Grafton but after two years removed to Polk county and filed a homestead claim on the .southwest quarter of section seven of Hill River township, eight and a half miles northeast of Mcintosh. Here he built a log cabin and entered upon tlie task of clearing the land which partly covered with brush and small timber. A few years later he erected a larger log house and for several years devoted his efforts to the development of the farm, putting about one hundred acres under cultivation. He continues to own the homestead which is one of the good farm properties of the region and in 1914 replaced the log house with a modern frame building. In 1901 he withdrew from his farming activities and returned to his trade and engaged in carpentering work in Mcintosh for a time and was then employed in the sash and domfactory at Crookston for a year. He opened his shop in Mcintosh, for cabinet and general wood work, in 1903, and has Iniilt up a successful business and is widely known for the skill and thoroughness of his workmanship. He conducts a prosperous trade in the various lines of his production and enga|res iu the construction of store fronts, doors and makes a specialty of church fixtures, his handicraft being represented in a number of the church interiors of the county. He has also given his attention to the contracting business. Mr. Peterson has ever given freely of his sei'V'ices and interests in the promotion of the general welfare of the county and as business man and citizen has won the respect of all his associates. Although his ready support is given any worthy project of public moment, he has always avoided official recognition in local government, preferring not to incur any restrictions on the independence of his activities. He is a member of the Lutlieran church. His marriage to Olivia Enarson occurred in 1893, in Hill River townsliip. She was born in Sweden and came to Polk county when eleven years old with her father, Olaf Eiiarson, a well known fanner and land owner. Mr. Euarson, upon his arrival in the county, suffered the loss of his entire capital, which consisted of a twenty doUar gold piece, in attempting to extricate his wagon from its lodgment in a stream, en route to his new home, and so began to build his fortunes in this county with no financial assistance, but with native ability and unceasing labor and thrift has become the largest land owner in Hill River township. A brother of Mr. Peterson, John Peterson, was also a homesteader in Hill River township and was well known in the county as registrar in the United States land office at Crookston, serving in that position until the appointment of the present registrar, Mr. Ringdal. John Peterson resides in Crookston but has been compelled to retire from all activities because of failing health.

A. J. Heath

A. J. Heath, editor and proprietor of the Mcintosh Times, one of the popular newspapers of the county, was bom near Portland, Maine, and came west in his childhood. In his youth he devoted his ambitions and energy to securing an education and with determined effort and steady application to his purpose, after receiving an academic training in the night schools at Minneapolis, pursued his studies through the collegiate course. Since his early activities in the commercial world, he has been identified with the printing business and was employed for some time as a pressman and later as a reporter on a metropolitan daily. Subsequently he spent three years in southern Minnesota, where his work supplied a thorough mechanical and literary training for the newspaper business, his duties ranging from the job room and type setting to the editorial chair. Since August, 1914, he has been the proprietor of the Mcintosh Times, where his able management has not only advanced the popularity of the sheet and the prosperity of the business but has attested to his intelligent understanding of his profession and his efficiency and natural ability as a newspaper man. The Mcintosh Times was established in 1887 and is Democratic in its editorial policy. The plant is fully equipped for competent operation, with a good four page press and linotype machine and commands a successful trade in job work. The paper is a weekly publication and is a clean, progressive sheet of eight pages and is all home print, with a circulation of one thousand subscribers.

Everett A. Webster

Everett A. Webster, of Mcintosh, a leading business man of the county, extensively identified with the interests of the north west as a merchant and land owner, was born at Daleville, Lackawana county. Pa., May 20, 1873, and has been a resident of Minnesota since his early childhood. He was reared in Lake City, and there attended the public schools, graduating from high school in 1891. For five years he was in the employ of Miller & Foote in Crookston and subsequently spent a year in Colorado. In 1902 he located in Mcintosh and embarked upon an independent commercial career, buying a half interest in the Larsen & Carpenter Co., dealers in hardware, agricultural implements and furniture, forming a partnership with Paul Carpenter. The firm of Carpenter & Webster have conducted a steadily increasing trade during the eight years of their operation and since the destruction of their building by fire in 1909, which entailed a loss of about fifteen thousand dollars. Mr. Webster then became sole owner of the business and has erected a large modern business block, with a frontage of over two hundred feet. Beside his commercial activities, Mr. Webster was also associated with his brother iu the management of farm on a quarter section of land near Mcintosh, wliere they engaged in dairy farming and the breeding of Holstein cattle. The success of this project led to larger ojjerations and they sold the farm iind estal)lished a wholesale house at Virginia, Minn., as Webster Brothers, with Walter Webster as resident manager. This company engages in the shipping of stock and hay and the buying and selling of general produce and commands a large territory, including such trade centers as Ilibbing, International Falls, Grand Rapids, Deer River and is the distributing point for hundreds of miles of surrounding agricultural country. They buy seven or eight car loads of blooded Holstein cattle, annually, in Wisconsin, which they .sell in Jlinncsota and North Dakota, and in 1914, shipped one hundred and sixtythree eai's of hay, a record which the steady growth of the business will advance to two hundred, in 1915. Mr. Webster is that type of business man and citizen who is never content with present achievement but who uses each success as a stepping stone to larger accomplishment and is possessed of those positive qualities which have led inevitably to his valuable services in the public interest and to ramification of his business enterprises throughout the northwest. In 1906, he erected the first building in Epping, North Dakota, establishing a hardware, agricultural implement and furniture store, which he operated for seven years in partnership with C. F. Carpenter and P. W. Carpenter. Epping has now grown to a population of 100 and is a thriving village with four elevators, two banks and various mercantile companies and enjoys the unique distinction, which likewise attests to its prosperity, of owning, in its twentyeight machines, automobile accommodation for its entire population. ]\Ir. Webster's most recent enterprise is the Webster Mercantile company, of Mcintosh, which represents an investment of .$10,000. Mr. Webster is the sole proprietor and opened the store for general mercantile and retail trade on March 1, 1915. As one of the large property owners of the section, he has conducted extensive land transactions in this region and in North Dakota and has also become interested in tlie lumber business. His keen understanding of the elements of success has contributed to his notable industrial career and he has applied the .same confident and foi-ceful service to the promotion of the public welfare, and is ever alert to the w-orth of public or private enterprise and an energetic and fearless advocate of any cause which he espouses. As a member of the town council, he was influential in the regulation of the liquor traffic and the construction of side walks and has also been associated with civic affairs in official capacity as president of the Commercial club. In political belief he is pledged to no party organization and among fraternal orders is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellow's. Mr. Webster was married, in 1904, to Martha Munch, of Crookston. She was bom in "Wisconsin and is the daughter of the late William Munch, who was for many j-ears a grain buyer at Crookston. They have four children, Leslie, Marie, Tom and John.

L. Shadduek, a well known citizen and business man of Mcintosh, was born in Clinton county, Iowa, April 14, 1865, and came to Polk county in 1886. For a year he was in the employ of his cousin, H. C. Misner, a merchant and grain dealer at Euclid, whose son is now engaged in the abstract business at Crookston.

In the fall of 1887, Mr. Shadduek went to Douglas county and for several years operated an elevator at Garfield for the Minneapolis & Northern Elevator company. He returned to Polk county in 1894 to assume the management of the company's elevator at Mcintosh and during the nine years of his asso- ciation with that entei-prise conducted a successful business, handling some six hundred thousand bushels of grain. In 1903 he left this position to engage in an independent business venture and became the proprietor of the Mcintosh Dray line and has since devoted his attention to its management, employing two teams in his prosperous operations. Through his recognition of the responsibilities of citizenship and his ready services in the promotion of the best interests and progress of the community, Mr. Shadduck is widely known and respected and, as an influential citizen and a member of the town council has enthusiastically supported all local improvements, his own home, in its attractiveness and pleasant surroundings suggesting the sincerity of his efforts for the best civic conditions. Mr. Shadduck is prominently known in fraternal circles as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern

Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias and has given efficient service in various lodge offices, having passed all the chairs in Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is the chief consul of the local camp of Modern Woodmen. He has also been honored with office of representative to the grand lodges of both organizations. He was married at Alexandria, Minn., to Diana B. Sweet. She is a native of Illinois and came to Minnesota when ten years of age with her father, Stephen R. Sweet, who was for many years a farmer near Alexandria and whose death occurred in August, 1908, at his daughter's home in Mcintosh. Mr. Shadduck and his wife have five children, Vera A. the wife of JMorris Narverson of Mcintosh ; Harold, who graduated from the high school in 1914 ; Hazel, Grace and Martha.

Tollof Kjolhaug

Tollof Kjolhaug, a successful farmer of Rosebud township, was born in Norway, November 7, 1873 and is the grandson of Tollof Kjolhaug, one of the pioneer settlers of that township. The latter had been a farmer in his native land and had also served as a sailor on merchant ships. He came to the United States in 1881, bringing his family to Fergus Falls, Minn., and in May 1883 located on the farm in Rosebud township which continued to be his home throughout his life. He was one of the organizers and a faithful member of the United Lutheran church at Fosston. He never acquired the use of the English language but preferred to speak his native tongue. He was married to Gurine Berg and they had seven children, Simon, Iver, Oliver, Mary, who still lives in the old home; Caroline; Karey, wife of E. 0. Estenson, living near Climax, Polk county, and Trine, who married Anton Hanson and resides near the same place. Tollof Kjolhaug died March 8, 1906 at the age of eighty-one and is survived by his wife, who is living on the homestead farm with her grandson, in her eighty-eighth year. Simon Kjolhaug took a claim in section fourteen of Rosebud township and was a well known thresherman in this region. He was active in township affairs and was one of the oi'ganizers of the township and held the office of assessor until his death in 1893. He married Anna Anderson of Polk county and they had two children, Martin, who is a graduate of the Crookston high school and county surveyor in Clearwater county. Minn., and Selma who with her mother makes her home in Gonvick, Minn., with Martin Kjolhaug, and is employed as teacher in the public schools. Iver Kjolhaug was a farmer in section fifteen. Rosebud township, for a number of years and since 1907 has resided in British Columbia, which is also the home of his brother Oliver. The subject of our sketch is the son of Andrew and Caroline Kjolhaug. His father died in Norway and he was reared by his grandfather and when eight years of age accompanied him to this country. He has always lived on the farm which was his grandfather's homestead, devot- ing his efforts to its development and since 1895 lias had the entire management of it. The farm is equipped with good barns and the original house has been remodeled into a pleasant home. He has drained much of the marsh land with ditches and is now engaged in the construction of a county ditch, which will cross his land. He engages in diversified farming, raising grain and cattle and is interested in the dairy business, keeping a herd of cows for that purpose. He was an organizer of the Fosston Cooperative creamery company and has served as president of the company since its organization. He is a member of the Republican party and is active in political matters and has been delegate to a number of conventions. Mr. Kjolhaug is interested in the public welfare and progress ajid has given able service in local affairs as supervisor and chairman of the board of supervisors and is the present treasurer of the township. He has never married.

Alexander Fyffe

Alexander Fyffe, a prosperous farmer, of Brandsvoid township, is a native of Ireland. Born in 1864, he was reared on a farm in a northern county of the old country and receiving an opportunity to come to the United States, having his fare paid to Boston, he began to win his way to success and prosperity in the new land. For about seven years he engaged in farming in Maine and 1890 came to Fosston. He spent several years working in the woods in the surrounding country and rented farming land until he finally secured the quarter section, which is his present home, purchasing it in 1896 from the bank in Fosston. It contained about seventy acres of producing land and he has now twice that acreage under cultivation. When he purchased this land and started his farming enterprise, he possessed a capital of two hundred and fifty dollars and a few head of stock, and from this with capable management and steady effort he has developed a fine property, and has erected good buildings and a delightful country home, pleasantly located on an elevation and in a grove. The land is in section twenty-two, and four tniles north of Fo.sston. Mr. Fyffe also operates another quarter section. He is devoting particular attention to dairying and keeps blooded stock, Guernsey cattle and fine strains of draft horses. Mr. Fyffe is a self made man in the best sense of the word and as farmer and citizen enjoys the respect of all. He was married to Bertha Carver of Maine and they have six children. Angle, who married Carl Tuffte, a farmer in Canada, Albert, Rose, Mark, Everett and Vernie. Mr. Fyffe and his family are members of the M. E. church at Fosston. He takes great pleasure in out-of-door sports and is an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman.

W. A. Marin, of Crookston, a well-known attorney and prominent citizen of the county, was bom at Lexington, Sanilac county, Michigan, January 13, 1874, the son of William and Adelaid (Moore) Marin. The latter was born in Canada and was the descendant of the English family of Moore, of which Sir John Moore, the famous Scottish general, was a member. William Marin is a native of Ontario, Canada, and of Irish ancestry. He engaged in the contracting business and in 1879 came to Crookston, then a small village, and opened a lumber yard and continued for many years to be identified with the business development of the town as a contractor and lumberman. He now makes his home at North Yakima, Washington, and his family of three daughters and a son are all residents of the state. W. A.