Renville County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 1 of those read), 1916 (part 2 of 2)

Otto Erickson, well known as a leading banker of Franklin, was born in the village of Franklin. September 12, 1876. His father, Zaeharias Erickson, a native of Finland, came to America in 1872, and bought forty acres in section 3, Bandon township, Renville county. At the age of seventy-five he has now retired from farming and is living in Franklin. His wife, Susanna (Sauvolainen) Erickson, came with her husband to America in 1872 and is now seventy-two years of age. Mr. Erickson attended the Minnesota Normal School and Business College, taking the normal course, during the winters of 1898 and 1899 and worked on the home farm during the summer, graduating in 1899. Then he taught school for three years in Renville county. In 1904 he began as clerk for Poss & Freeman, proprietors of a hardware store at Franklin, where he remained for seven years. At that time he became assistant cashier in the Citizens' State Bank, being promoted November 1, 1912, to cashier, which position he still holds. .Mr. Erickson is a member of the Finnish Lutheran church. lie has been village recorder for two years and serves on the village school board.

The State Bank of Sacred Heart was incorporated May 15, 1911. by W. A. Day, J. M. Pease, 0. T. Ramsland, Robert C. Nolton, Charles II. Nolton, David Eaton, J. H. Paulson and II. B. Helgeson. The first officers were: W. A. Day, president; J. M. Pease, vice-president, and M. G. Geslin, cashier. The directors were: William A. Day, John M. Pease. David R. Eaton, 0. T. Ramsland and R C. Nolton. The bank began with a capital stock of $10,000. The bank building was erected in 1912. In 1912 M. F. Day became cashier and in 1914 J. N. Stenborg became vice-president, the present board being constituted as follows: W. A. Day, president; John M. Pease, vice-president; M. F. Day. cashier; directors, W. A. Day, Sacred Heart, Minn.: John M. Pease, Mora, Minn.; R. O. Nolton, Granite Falls, Minn., and J. N. Stenborg, Sacred Heart. Minn.

The O'Connor Bros. State Bank of Renville, the largest capitalized bank in the county, was incorporated at Renville, September 3. 1912, by the brothers, Timothy O'Connor, Edward O'Connor and William O'Connor, with a capital stock of $30,000. The bank building is a substantial modern brick structure, equipped and furnished with the latest in bank fixtures and nicely located, as well as unusually attractive in design. The present board is constituted as follows: Timothy O'Connor, president; Edward O'Connor, vice-president; William O'Connor, cashier; Robert K. Stuart and C. D. Beck, assistant cashiers. Directors: Edward O'Connor. Sacred Heart: Timothy O'Connor and William O'Connor, both of Renville.

William O'Connor, a well known banker of Renville and a prominent figure in the financial integrity of Renville county, was born on a farm near Forest City, Iowa, November 10, 1873, son of James and Elizabeth O'Connor. He attended the district schools of his native town and came with his mother to Sacred Heart in 1885, here completing his education. After ten years of business experience he started his banking career with the O'Connor Brothers' bank at Renville in the capacity of bookkeeper. In this business he has since continued and is now the efficient cashier of the O'Connor Bros. State Bank. Mr. O'Connor's connections with the banking and land interests of this and other counties have been interesting and varied. In addition to his interests in the bank at Renville he is a director in the Farmers State Bank of Sacred Heart, vice president of the McGrath State Bank of McGrath, Minnesota, and vice president of the O'Connor Land Company of Renville. In public affairs, Mr. O'Connor has not shirked his duty, as his two years' service on the Renville city council and his two years' service as mayor have shown. Fraternally he is likewise well known, being a member of the Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs, the Modern Woodmen and the Royal Neighbors of Renville and of the Knights of Columbus at Montevideo. A lover of the out-of-dooi's sports, and as a thorough believer of the civic progress of the community, he has likewise become an active worker in the Renville Commercial Club. All in all he is a useful citizen whose time is well occupied with public and private duties, and his activities have won for him a foremost place among the men of the county. Mr. O'Connor was married May 6, 1894, to Malvma Baade, a native of Renville. This union has been blessed with three children : Vernon W., Jennings L. and Timothy Donald. Vernon W. graduated from the Renville high school and is now studying law at the University of Minnesota. Jennings L. is attending the Renville high school. Timothy Donald is likewise attending the Renville high school.

Timothy O'Connor, one of Renville's most successful business men and a pioueer in Renville banking, wras born in Dane county, Wisconsin, May 21, 1866, son of James and Elizabeth (Erickson) O'Connor. Timothy O'Connor was thirteen years of age when his father died and had meager opportunities for obtaining an education. In April, 1880, he and his brother James started overland by team for Renville county, locating in Sacred Heart. Here Timothy worked on the farm of his cousin, E. S. Gunderson, for a short time. The following fall his brothers, John and Edward, came to Renville county and still later came the brothers, Michael and William. In 1887 Timothy located in Renville. He had acquired with hard work a common school education and with the assistance of his brothers started up in business for himself in the small but growing village, commencing a general banking business, the firm being known as the 0 "Connor Brothers, (private) bankers, with Timothy O'Connor as cashier and local head of the firm. That was the only bank that Renville could boast of and was considered quite an acquisition. Associated with Mr. O'Connor were his brothers, James and Edward, aud also J. T. Brooks, afterwards the county auditor. In 1890 the business was incorporated under the state banking laws and became known as the Renville State Bank, with Timothy O'Connor as cashier. In 1897 Timothy became the president; James, vice president, and William, cashier. In 1907 the bank was sold to S. M. Serkland and O. A. Stensvad. In 1907 Timothy and his brothers, Edward and William, organized the First National Bank of Bellfield, North Dakota, also organizing the Bellfield Land and Investment Company. They retained this five years. September 3, 1912, they organized the present O'Connor Brothers' Bank of Renville, erecting one of the finest bank buildings in the county, with Timothy O'Connor, president; Edward O'Connor, vice president; William O'Connor, cashier; Robert K. Stuart, assistant cashier, and C. D. Beck, assistant cashier. The O'Connor brothers have organized the following banks: In 1892 the first bank located at Buffalo Lake, then a private bank, was organized, Edward being president and Timothy vice president, selling out their interests there in 1895 ; the State Bank of Olivia, president, Edward 0 'Connor, vice president, Timothy O'Connor, cashier, P. H. Kirwan ; the Bank of Miles, now known as the town of Danube, Renville county, with Timothy as jn-esident, William, vice president, and H. J. Lee, cashier, being reorganized into a state bank with Timothy as president, P. H. Schroeder, vice president, and William as cashier. This was sold out to Hans Gronnerud and is now owned by Schroeder Brothers; the Farmers State Bank of Sacred Heart, with Edward O'Connor as president, John O'Connor, vice president, and II. 0. Agre and J. L. Johnson as cashiers, Timothy being on the board of directors. In 1905 this was sold out and in 1912 it was repurchased and consolidated with the Citizens Bank, with Timothy O'Connor, president, William O'Connor, vice president, W. H. Cheeney, second vice president, later changing officers, with Edward O'Connor as president and Timothy vice president. In 1910 they organized the Holland America Bank of South Heart, North Dakota, selling out their interests later. In 1913 they organized the McGrath State Bank at McGrath, Minn., with the following officers: President, Edward O'Connor; vice president, William O'Connor; cashier, H. J. Kirwan; directors, the above and Timothy O'Connor. In Renville, in addition to the banks they have organized the O'Connor Realty Company and the O'Connor Land Company. Timothy O'Connor and his brother William also own some farming interests, having some 4,000 acres, which they have improved and developed, using the farm near Renville as a demonstration farm of the State Experimental Station. Timothy O'Connor is a large shareholder and was the treasurer for many years of the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company at Renville.

Timothy O'Connor has been a candidate for State senator on the fusion Democratic-Populist ticket and also on the Independent ticket, being defeated both times. He has been a member of the Democratic State Central Committee for twenty-five years. He was appointed by Governor Johnson as State Highway Commissioner. He is now a member of the Sanitorium Tuberculosis Board of Renville, Chippewa, Yellow Medicine and Lac qui Parle counties. For eighteen years he has been a member of the school board and has served on the village council and was the first mayor when Renville became a city. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. at Renville, the Royal Arch at Granite Falls, the Shrine at Minneapolis and the Knights Templars at Redwood. He is a member of the M. W. A. of Renville and was formerly a member of the I. 0. 0. F. at Renville. In 1887 Mr. O'Connor married Jane Olson, born in Dakota county, Minnesota, daughter of 0. N. Olson, who was a pioneer of the State and located at Willmar in 1868 after the war, and later located in Renville. He was a veteran of Company D, Thirty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor have three children, Etta, a graduate of the local high school mid St. Cloud Normal School, and now Mrs. E. R. Barber of Minneapolis; Irene, also a high school graduate, now Mrs. Thomas I). Skiles of Minneapolis, and Timothy Gerald, a student at high school. Mr. O'Connor is a splendid type of public-spirited, generous-hearted public citizen. By extended reading he has become a man of broad education and information, he is a man of deep sympathies and understanding, and in spite of the fact that he has won much of success and honor he is affable and approachable, a pleasant companion and a staunch friend. It is such men as he who make their communities a desirable place in which to live.

The New State Bank of Morton was incorporated June 1. 1914, by the following: F. E. Sylvester. E. J. Kothlow, William Wiehman, John Blume, Fred Pfeiffer, George Doster, Julius Blume, John Hageman, Gerard J. Simon, William Zumwinkle. J. Scheffler, C. W. Lussenhop, Fred Scheffler, William A. Lussenhop, F. W. Stevens, Wencel Kodet, F. M. Serbus, Sam Buscho, H. F. Rubey, George II. Johnson, H. J. Fink. The capital stock was $15,000.00. The first board of directors were: F. E. Syl- vester, George Doster, "W. F. Stevens, E. J. Kothlow, William Wiehman, C. W. Lussenhop and John Hageman. The present board is constituted of the following': William Wiehman. president; E. J. Kothlow, vice-president; F. E. Sylvester, cashier; E. W. Neunsinger, assistant cashier. Directors - E. J. Kothlow, ('. W. Lussenhop. F. E. Sylvester, William Wiehman, George Doster, John Hageman and II. N. Nelson.

The hank endeavors to promote the interest of all public improvement and enterprises which further the progress and upbuilding of the community.

Fairfield E. Sylvester, cashier of the New State Bank of Morton, Minnesota, was born at Plainview, Minnesota, in 1868, son of Charles C. and Charlotte C. (Burns) Sylvester. Charles C. Sylvester was a native of Maine. He was one of the early pioneers of Wabasha county and later in 1870 came to Watonwan county. In 1850 he drove with others from Chicago to California and spent several years in the gold fields of that state. Mrs. C. C. Sylvester was the daughter of an early merchant and Indian trader at Mt. Vernon (near Winona), Minnesota. He is now living at Washington, District of Columbia. Fairfield E. received his education in the public schools at Madelia, Minnesota, at Mankato and at the University of Minnesota, graduating from the law department. He practiced law from 1895 until 1907 at Madelia, Minnesota. In 1910 he became cashier of the Security State Bank at Seaforth, Redwood county. June, 1914, the New State Bank of Morton was organized with Mr. Sylvester as its largest stockholder. The same year he also had charge of the organization of the Farmers' Co-operative ( I rain Company at Morton. He held the office of Municipal Judge of Madelia two terms and was a member of the board of education at Seaforth one term. Mr. Sylvester was married to Mercy Hornbeck of Centerville, South Dakota, in 1898. The following children were born to this union : Marian, born in 1900, and Shirley, born in 1910.

William Wiehman, leading citizen, successful banker and former sheriff, was born in Cottonwood township, Brown county, this state, April 5, 1859, son of Diedrich and Margaret (Boorman) Wiehmann, the pioneers. As a child he underwent the thrilling experiences of the Indian outbreak. He was reared to farm pursuits and at the age of twenty-five bought eighty acres of land in section 14. Beaver township, which he farmed until the fall of 1889. He was then elected the sheriff of Renville county and took up his office January 1, 1890, at Beaver Falls, where he lived for ten years. Then he moved back to the old farm and stayed there until 1909, when he retired and moved to Morton. From 1903 to- 1907 he served as representative of Renville county in the State Legislature and was the chairman of the committee on illuminating' oils. He has been a member of the village council and held other offices in Morton. He was also president of the Pioneers' Association of Renville county, for several years, again elected this year, and was instrumental in having monuments erected to mark the graves of several slain in the Indian outbreak. In this work. Mr. Wichman has attained a widespread fame. He has made a life long study of the incidents of the massacre, and at the expense of much time and money has labored, through the erection of monuments, markers and otherwise, to perpetuate the memory of those martyrs to civilization who perished at the hands of the revengeful Sioux. June 1, 1914. he was elected president of the New State Bank of Morton, which position he still holds. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. On October 17, 1884, Mr. Wichman was married to Clara Hummel, daughter of Reinhold and Amelia i Dresdte) Hummel, farmers, who came to Renville county in 1873. Before her marriage Mrs. Wichman was a teacher in Redwood and Renville counties for several years. Three children have blessed this couple - Edward, born July 22, 1885, who is in the grain and lumber business at Mandan, North Dakota; Arthur II., born November 30, 1889. connected with the Daily News in Minneapolis; and Vera, born January 3, 1900. who is at home.

The Farmers State Bank of Buffalo Lake was incorporated May 12. 1915, by the following: ('. A. Kuske, Louis Willie, Emil W. Jakobitz, W. D. Wallner, Frank Wallner, John Wallner. Herman Yunker, II. L. Reep, O. O. Reep, G. H. Werner, Herman Stark. William Wehking, L. A. Reep. Evo Catour, Henry Boessling, William Jakobitz, Andrew Winkles, Luis Heger, Gust Wilke, Gust Redman, P. A. Winkles, Herman Keup and E. L. Terry, with a capital stock of .+10,000.00 The first officers were: C. A. Kuske, president ; Herman Stark, vice president ; Louis Willie, cashier. Directors - C. A. Kuske, Herman Yunker. Herman C. Stark, Frank Wallner and G. H. Werner. The bank opened for business June 3. 1915. The policy of the bank is safety, service and courtesy to all. The present capital and surplus is $12,000.00.

Herman C. Stark, vice president of the Farmers State Bank of Buffalo Lake, was born in Brandenburg, Germany, April 11, 1855. son of William and Wilhelmina (Lornz) Stark, and remained with his parents until sixteen years of age, when he bought eighty acres in Bismark township, Sibley county, this state, to which he added until he owned two whole sections of land. In 1913 lie sold one section and his children are living on the other. In 1905 he took up his home in Buffalo Lake, where he lias since resided. He is a Republican in politics, has been director of the school board in Bismark township, Sibley county, and president of the school board of Buffalo Lake village and a member of the Buffalo Lake village council. He has been an active temperance advocate, and has worked hard to make Buffalo Lake and Renville county "dry." The family faith is that of the Evangelical church. Mr. Stark was married April 20, 1873, in Transit township, to Augusta Fromm. daughter of Frederick and Hannah (Krown) Fromm, by whom he lias had nine children : Lydia, Ferdinand, August, Herman, Martha, Amanda, Benjamin, Frederick and Elsie. Lydia was born January 25, 1874, married William Schiro, of Preston Lake township, this county, and has five children: William, Arthur, Elsie, Elma, and Elmer. Ferdinand was born July 29. 1876, and is fanning in Bismarck. Sibley county. He married Martha Sehfer, and his children are : Mada, Henry, Minnie and Milton. August was born November 17, 1S7S. and lives in Bismark. Sibley county. He married Alma Litzau. anil his children arc : Harvey, Herbert. Bernice and Gladys. Herman was born March 21, 1881, and lives in Bismark. Sibley county. He married Paulina Litzau and his children are: Frederick, Viola, Alice. Harry, Helen and Laverne. Martha was born .March 13, 1883, and is the wife of Deidrick Brethorst of Preston Lake township. They have six children: Ferdinand, Esther, Benjamin, Myrtle, Ethel and Norville. Amanda was born July 31. 1885, and is the wife of Richard Brethorst. of Bismark, Sibley county. They have three children: Lydia. Ervin and Harold. Benjamin was born December

19, 1887. and died June 16. 1905. at Buffalo Lake. Frederick was born April 13. 1890, and died February 17, 1891. Elsie was born June 25. 1893, and is the wife of Henry Ruschmyer, of Preston Lake township, Renville county. They have one child, Vernon.

William Stark was born in Germany. October 5, 1817, and was married in 1852, to Wilhelmina Lorenz, who was born April 12, 1827. They came to America in the fall of 1856 and purchased 140 acres of land in Jefferson county. Wis. In 1862 they sold out and moved to Dryden, Sibley county, Minnesota. Two years later they moved to Transit township in the same county, took a homestead of 160 acres, built a two-room cabin of hewed timber. and there remained until 1891, when they sold out and moved to Gaylord, also in the same county, where he died February

20, 1894. The wife did in Lowell. Wis., June 30, 1895. In the family there were five children: Henry, who died June 30, 1853; Hermena, wife of Gustav Kasten, of Lowell. Wis.: Herman, the

Frederick Fromm was born in Germany, May 19, 1813, and was married December 21, 1843. to Hannah Krown, who was born February 9, 1820. They came to America in 1855, settled in Sibley county, this state, took up a claim of 160 acres in Transit township, and there ended their days, he April 19, 1890, and she December 11, 1903. In the family there were eight children: Charles, who lives in St. Helaire, Pennington county, Minn.; Minnie, who died at the age of two years; Augusta, who died at the age of one and a half years; Wilhelmina, now Mrs. Fred Borehet. of Winthrop, Minn.; Augusta, wife of Herman ( '. Stark; Fred, who died in November, I860; and Emelia, who died in January, 1861.,

The Security State Bank of Buffalo Lake was incorporated April 3, 1915, at Buffalo Lake, by Fred C. Eiselein. Eugene Eiselein. E. W. Rebstock and John H. Sander, witli a capital stock of $10,000.00. After a short time the project was dropped.

The Farmers State Bank of Olivia was incorporated May 11, 1915, by E. L. Terry, C. A. Kuske, Louis Willie, Henry Eickhoff, Henry Fehr, William Sholts and Julius Henecke. The first board was constituted of the following: C. A. Kuske, president; Henry Fehr, vice president; E. L. Terry, cashier; John Tersteeg, assistant cashier. Directors - Julius Henecke, L. J. Kuske and Louis Willie. The bank opened for business June 21, 1915, with a capital stock of .+15,000.00. The majority of the stock being owned by the farmers, it is the policy of the management to bring the bank into dose touch with the financial end of the farm, and to bring the surrounding country into the highest state of agricultural worth. Althought having been in business only for a short time, the bank has a nice line of deposits, and the business is growing steadily. The present capital and surplus is $18,500.

The O'Connor Brothers' Interests. Timothy and James O'Connor, brothers, started overland from Forest City, Iowa, to Sacred Heart, in this county, in the spring of 1880. In the fall of 1880 came two more brothers, John and Edward. The other brothers, Michael and William, came in 1885.

In 1887, Timothy, James, John, Edward, Michael and William O'Connor associated themselves with J. T. Brooks, afterwards county auditor, and organized the institution then known as O 'Connor Brothers, (private) Bankers. The officers were : James O'Connor, president, and John O'Connor, vice president. Timothy, who was the cashier, was the active manager of the institution. At that time there were only two banks in the county, one at Beaver Falls and one at Bird Island. December 23, 1889, the O'Connor institution was incorporated as the Renville State Bank, with the following officers: President, James O'Connor; vice president, J. T. Brooks; cashier. Timothy O'Connor; directors, Edward, John, James and Timothy O'Connor and J. T. Brooks. A building was erected in 1892. In 1897. Timothy O'Connor became president; James O'Connor, vice president; and William O'Connor, cashier. In 1907 the bank was sold to S. M. Serkland and 0. A. Stensvad.

The Farmers State Bank of Sacred Heart was organized November 28, 1888, and opened its doors for business the same year. Edward O'Connor was the president and Mary O'Connor the cashier. In 1905 this institution was sold to other stockholders. In 1909 it was repurchased by the O'Connor Brothers' interests. In the meantime the Citizens State Bank of Sacred Heart had been organized. This institution was absorbed by the Farmers State Bank interests in 1912. The officers of the consolidated institution in 1912 were: President. Timothy O'Connor; vice president. "William O'Connor; second vice president. W. H. Cheney; cashier. H. C. Omholt; directors, William and Timothy O'Connor, W. II. Cheeney. A. O. Skrukrud and II. 0. Agre. The present officers are: President. Edward O'Connor; vice president. Timothy O'Connor; cashier, Oscar Olufson; directors, William, Edward and Timothy O'Connor, H. 0. Agre and A. 0. Skrukrud.

A private bank was organized at Buffalo Lake in 1893 by the O'Connor Brothers under the name of the Bank of Buffalo Lake. The officers were: President. Edward O'Connor: vice president, Timothy O'Connor; cashier, F. G. Nellermoe. In 1895 the O'Connor Brothers sold out their interests in this bank, but Mr. Nellermoe still remains its moving factor. It is now known as the State Bank of Buffalo Lake.

The Olivia State Bank was organized by the O'Connor Brothers in 1895. with Edward O'Connor as president: William Winahorst as vice president ; P. H. Kirwan as cashier. Timothy O'Connor as well as Edward was heavily interested. The O'Connor interests have been sold, but M. J. Bowling, one of the original stockholders, is now the active head of the institution.

The Bank of Miles was organized by the O'Connor Brothers in 1902 with Timothy O'Connor as president: William O'Connor as vice president ; and Halvor J. Lee as cashier. Fur a time Hans Gronnerud was connected with the hank. It is now the Danube State Bank.

The O'Connor Brothers' State Bank of Renville is the largest in the county. It was organized September 3, 1912, with Timothy O'Connor as president; Edward O'Connor as vice president; William O'Connor as cashier: Robert K. Stuart as assistant cashier; and C. D. Beck, also as assistant cashier; with Edward. Timothy and William O'Connor as directors. The bank opened its doors September 4, 1912, with a capital and surplus of $50,000. The present building, started in 1911 and completed and ready

Thus it will be seen that the O'Connor Brothers were active in starting six of the present banking institutions of the county: The Renville State Bank, of Renville; the O'Connor Brothers" State Bank, of Renville ; the Farmers State Bank, of Sacred Heart ; the State Bank of Buffalo Lake ; the Olivia State Bank, of Olivia; and the Danube State Bank.

The North Dakota interests of the O'Connor Brothers have been extensive and varied. Beginning in 1907 and continuing to 1910, the brothers, Timothy, Edward and William, erected elevators along the line of the Northern Pacific at Beach, Wiebow, Belfield, South Heart and Antelope, all in North Dakota, these five elevators being the first to be built on that railroad west of the Missouri river. The opening of these elevators was the beginning of the grain dealing industry in what has now become one of the richest wheat regions of the world. In 1907, Timothy, Edward and William organized the First National Bank of Belfield, with Edward as president ; R. C. Davis as vice president : J. 0. Milsten as cashier; and Edward and William O'Connor and J. 0. Milsten, R. C. Davis and Anton Anderson as directors. These brothers also, under the name of the Belfield Land and Investment Company, with Edward O'Connor as president; William O'Connor as vice president; T. 0. Ramsland as secretary and treasurer, and Edward, William and Timothy ()'( 'minor as directors, secured control of 50,000 acres of North Dakota land, and in the five years following the organization, the land company sold some 158,000 acres to Belgians and Hollanders whom they induced to come to America and settle in the Northwest. In 1910 the O'Connor Brothers' interests in part at Belfield were sold to the Holland-Dakota Landbouw Compagnie, a syndicate of wealthy Hollanders and Belgians. The O'Connor Brothers still own part of the townsite of Belfield.

The O'Connor Realty Company was organized in 1909 with the following officers: President, William O 'Connor; secretary and treasurer, Timothy O'Connor. The O'Connor Land Company was organized in 1911 with the following officers : Edward O 'Connor, president; Timothy O'Connor, secretary, and William O'Connor, treasurer. In addition to this. Timothy and William O'Connor own some 4,000 acres of land. The State Experimental Station is using the farm near Renville as a demonstration farm.

In 1910 the O'Connor Brothers organized the Holland-American Bank of South Heart, North Dakota; with Edward O'Connor as president; William O'Connor, vice president; and E. J. Facey as cashier. This bank was sold in 1910. In 1912 the brothers purchased control of the Devils Lake State Bank of Devils Lake. North Dakota, with Edward O'Connor as president: William

In 1913 the O'Connor Brothers organized the McGrath State Bank at McGrath, Minnesota, with the following officers: President, Edward O'Connor; vice president, William O'Connor; cashier, II. J. Kirwan; directors, R. K. Stuart, C. D. Beck and Edward, William and Timothy O'Connor.

Thus is briefly told the business career of as remarkable a group of men as ever came into the county. Starting as poor boys, they have by native ability, shrewdness, generosity, and hard work achieved their present high position as leaders not only finance and business but in public influence and matured thought as well.

In developing a part of North Dakota they did a service to their country, and in developing Renville county they have likewise had a prominent part. The improvements on their farms are the talk of the state and are widely praised, and their farming operations are a revelation in the possibilities of Renville county rural life.

Public spirited in every way, every worthy movement finds in them warm supporters, and their influence and their financial help is given freely to every good cause. The extent of their private benefactions will never be known and almost countless are the men and boys who have been quietly given a helping hand at many a critical period of life.

The . brothers are cordial, successful, clean-cut, constructive men and useful citizens, and the country is truly the better for their living in it.

A sample of their faith in the future of the county is the splendid building which houses the financial institution of the O'Connor Brothers' Bank at Renville. It is a model of its kind, sunshiny and airy, and absolutely secure, an architectural beauty, and a source of pride to the village, while the geniality of the banking staff makes patron and visitor alike feel immediately welcome and at home.