Minneapolis City (part 48 of 80)

public schools and graduated at the Eng¬ lish High school at the age of sixteen. He then obtained a situation in the dr3' goods jobbing house of JeAvett, Tibbetts & Co. as clerk, designing to gain a prac¬ tical knoAAdedge of the business in all its branches. Here he remained for the next tAA'o years, and probabh' Avould have continued until he should enter the ranks of merchants, had not the stirring events Avhich attended the breaking out of the Rebellion directed his ambition into other channels, and opened to him a careernot contemplated in his plan of life. HeAvas noAA^ nineteen 3"ears old, city bred, AA'ith no experience in life except that gained in the school room and counting hotise The patriotie ardor of the period seized him; he eagerly sought the latest AA^at bulletins, and gaA^e himself to militarystudies. The "6th Alassachusetts Alilitia'' regiment enlisted for three months had gained fame In^ its pasage through Baltimore, where it en¬ countered the first forcible resistanee of the AAmr, and had shed the first blood in defence of the Union, and ha\'ing re¬ turned had opened a list for recruits for a three year's serA'iee. Young FarnsAvorth felt it his duty to enlist in this regiment, but he Avould not do soAvithout his fath¬ er's consent. To obtain this he Avent through a tr3'ing ordeal. His father A'er3' naturalh' feared that his 3'outh and im¬ maturity Avould render him 01113^ an in¬ cumbrance to the arm3', and pleaded the claims of maternal tenderness. The young man A\ms firm, and at last ob¬ tained a reluctant consent, and lost no time in enrolling himself as a private in Compan3""B'' of the TAventy-sixth Regi¬ ment of Alassachusetts A'olunteer Infan¬ try. His enlistment Avas in October, 1861. The regiment AA'as commanded by Col. EdAvard I'. Jones, lateh' Lieut- GoA^ernor of the State of NeAA' York. When read3' to take the field it AAms given sealed orders, and directed to report at Ship Island, near the coast of Mis¬ sissippi, and betweem Mobile and New Orleans. There it was placed in the di¬ vision of Maj. Gen. Benj. F. Butler, and joined in the advance on New Orleans. It lay on transpoi't just below Forts Jackson and St. Philip when the fleet commanded by Admiral Farragut, bombarded the forts commanding the river, cleared away the obstruc¬ tions through a fiery oi'deal, and occupied New Orleans. For the next two years the command was emploj^ed in provost duO' in and about the Cres¬ cent City . Ditring the time, y oitng F arnsworth so worthil3^ discharged a soldier's dutythathe was successively promotedto corporal, sergeant-major, second lieuten¬ ant, first lieutenant and captain. He also acted as I'egimental adjutant, and quartermaster, and was detailed as brigage commissar\y At the expiration of the three years enlistment the regiment was re-enlisted as a cavahw regiment (in 1864,) but was never mounted, serv¬ ing as infantiw. It was attached to Sher¬ idan's Command operating in theShenandoah valley in Virginia; when in October, 1864, this armj" was routed 63' the rebel forces, under Gen. Earty, and almost de¬ moralized, but the return of its gallant commander galloping down the valle3' - an incident which has been immortalized in T. Buchanan Read's stirring poem, "Sheridan's Ride'' - inspirited the dis¬ couraged troops, and turned defeat into a glorious Yictoi'3y It was at the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, that Captain Farnsworth earned his spurs and lost his limb. The I'egiment lay in a wood under the fire of a rebel batteiw. The men had bi'oken ranks and sought shelter, from the storm which swept over them, behind trees, when Captain Farnsworth of Com¬ pany "C," anticipating an order to "for¬ ward," and charge the batter3', formed his men into line, and called the roll of liis companv while the grape shot crashed through the trees, lopping off branches all about them. He had hardly taken his position behind the column when the summons to "charge" came, and as he sprang forward he fell headlong to the ground. A glance showed him that his left foot hung dangling, held only b3^ an unsevered ligament. The column dashed forward in the face of the blazing bat¬ tery, scaled a wall and charged the gun¬ ners, while the captain lay upon the gi'ound brandishing his sword, and cheering his comrades to the despei'ate struggle. A tourniquet was placed on the bleeding stump while the grape shot swept the field. He found a teniporar3' shelter from the fl3dng shot behind a tree, and as soon as an am¬ bulance could be procured was taken to the field hospital. An irrepar¬ able loss had befallen the youthful officer, but the da3" was won, and the soldier's heart was cheered by the shouts of yictoiw. Such episodes of yalor, frequent diu'ing the war, are now recalled amid the "piping times" of peace as traditions of a forgot¬ ten past. The suryiyors of such scenes of carnage deserye to be held in tender remembrance, eyen though they carr3' through life, like Captain Farnsworth, no artificial limb as a reminder oi their sacrifices.

Captain Farusvyorth was honorably discharged from the arm3^ in Februar3', 1865. He then took a position in the New York house of Parker, Wilder & Co., as a partner of which firm he remained until 1879. During this period, October 6th, 1869, he mar¬ ried Miss Leila F. Newcomb, daughter ot John J. Newcomb, a well known produce

Having obtained interests in Dakota lands he came west in 1879, and opened a farm in connection with Charles B. Newcomb, of St. Paul, at Hancock, Stev¬ ens County, Minn. P'our sections were eoni]>rised in the farm, which was put under cultivation, constituting one of the "bonanza" farms of that famous region. Three 3'ears later, having ex¬ changed his farm for real estate in Min¬ neapolis, he came here and engaged in the real estate business. The partnershi]) of Farnsworth & Wolcott was formed, and soon did a large business. Soon afterwards Mr. Wolcott retired from the Arm. The business was then ineorpoi'cited as the F'arnsworth Loan& Realty Compain^ of which Mr. Farns¬ worth became ])resident and treasurer. The company j.nirehased Prospect Park Addition and the Meeker's Island Land & Power Com])an3' Addition, and hand¬ led Mr. Farnsworth's interests in Lake of the Isles Addition, in Northeast Minneapolis, and other properties. The company after a while abandoned the commission business, confining its oper¬ ations to its own properties and en¬ gaged largely in loaning mone3^

The fine improvements introduced in¬ to Prospect Park and other properties of the P'arnsworth compan3^ attest the energ3' with which its business has been conducted, and the breadth of view that has inspired its operations. While en¬ gaged in developing his own pro])erties Mr. h'arnsworth has not been neglectfid of the general interests of the commun¬ ity. He has been an active director of the Board of Trade, serving also as its vice-president and treasurer. He has also been a director of the Business Men's Pnion, and is now a member of the reeenth' established Real Estate Kixehange.

Outside of business connections, he is a devoted member of Westminister Pres¬ byterian Church, of John A. Rawlins Post, G. A. R., and of the Lo3'al Legion of Alinnesota.

The famih" residence is at No. 1-4-1-4- Mount Curve avenue. The famih' con¬ sists of Mrs. F'arnsworth and four child¬ ren, three sons and a daughter. Theeldest son, Arthur J., now twent3'-one vears of age is at the Massachusetts Institute of Technolog3' and the others at school in this citv.

Mr. Farnsworth is a man whose ]K'rsonalit3' is anexam])leand an inspiration in a conimunit3'. He has a noble presence, and an open, cheerful and frank expres¬ sion, which at once inspires confidence and admiration. He honors his Christ¬ ian ancestrvand training in a consistent religious life, while he keeps step with the most energetic in the stirring enter¬ prises of the cit3' and the times.

Edmund Eichhokn. Alinneapolishas no more lo3^al sons in their intelli¬ gent devotion to her prosperit3' and re¬ nown, than man3' whose birth place was in the German-fatherland. Especialh' is this the case with the ardent young men, compatriots of Carl Schurz and Franz Sigel, who wei'e driven from their homes through adherence to the Revo¬ lutionary spirit, which had its culmina¬ tion in the era of 1848. Chafing under the restraints which a monarchical svstem imposed, and animated by S3'mpatlw with free institutions, the3' entered into American citizenship, with perhaps a more vivid appreciation of its benefits than the native born experience.

Mr. hhchhorn was one of those who, though not coei'ced by actual force, was nevertheless constrained bv S3'm])ath3' with the progressive libert3' party, in whose sui)i)ort Robert Blum, had laid down his life at Vienna, to abandon his native land, and take up American citizenship. His arrival on this side of the ocean was in September 1848, after a voyage of forty-nine days in a sailing ship. His birth place was Boehleninthe Thuringian forest in the Pi'incipalitj^ of Schwartzburg Rudolstadt, and the date of birth August 15, 1825. His father was F. T. Eichhorn, belonging to the agricultural and manufacturing class, whose ancestoi's were from Austria, where they held rank among the govern¬ ing class of the counti'y. His father died when he was only three 3^ears old, and he wiis brought up under the care of his mother. His education was that of the common school, with two years at a commercial college in Arnstadt. When thirteen years old he was entered as an apprentice at Arnstadt, with a house engaged in the wholesale and retail trade in drugs and groceries, where he con¬ tinued for four years.

He then sought employment at Ham¬ burg and Magdeburg, but owing to the competition for places was obliged to content himself with a volunteer place in the counting rooms of several com¬ mission houses. He was then emploj'ed for four years as commercial traveler for the large jobliing house of Boehwe & Co., in Leipsic, who were engaged in the tobbacco business. The political agita¬ tions were now at their height, and by the advice of friends, and through regard for personal safety, he determined to emigrate to America, where he arrived as befoi'e stated. He was then twentythi'ee years of age, with a fair education, considerable commercial experience, and full of the ardor of young manhood.

He settled at Mayville, Wisconsin, where he opened a eountry store, and engaged extensively in the manufacture of potash, experiencing the vicissitudes of business in a new country; making fair profits, and suffering serious losses b3^ failure of debtors and the shipwreck of products of his asheiw while en-route to an Eastern market. During this period on the 15th of August, 1852, he married at Watertown, Wis., Miss Veronica Geldner, whose ])arents were from Breslau Silesia. After more than a cjuarter of a centuiw of happ3" married life, Mrs. Eichhorn died, October, 1877, at Minneapolis, then their home.

In 1857, Mr. Eichhorn removed with his famil3" to Hastings, Minn., where he engaged in the grocer3^ business, which he pursued with diligence and success for the next sixteen 3fears. He was elected Register of Deeds of Dakota County; Alderman of the Cit3" of Hastings, and School Inspector.

In April 1873, Mr. Eichhorn made another final removal to this Cit3^, where he engaged in the fire insurance, real estate and loan business, which he still continues, having associated with him his two sons and son-in-law. The busi¬ ness has grown to one of considerable magnitude, occupying the time of the proprietors and of several clerks.

Mr. Eichhorn has dealt in real estate, buying and selling, and has invested his earnings in improvements, so that his real estate has become a source of in¬ come. He was chiefiy instrumental in the establishment of the German Ameri¬ can Bank, in August 1886, of which he was president for three years, resigning when compelled to go abroad, for the restoration of his impaired health. He however, has remained a director of the Bank, whose sviccess is due in no small degree to his good judgement and watchfulness.

Mr. Eichhorn has been elected three times in succession as Alderman of the Thii'd Ward in which he resides, serving the City Council from 1882 to 1887, when he resigned. He was Chairman of the Committees of Gas, Salaries, Roads and Bridges, and member of the Finance Committee. When the bonds of the cit\' were being issued at five and .six percent, interest, it was upon his suggestion, ap- ])reciating tlie good credit which tlie city was entitled to have, that four i)er cent. Bonds were issued, finding to the sur])rise of liis colleagues, purchasers at a premium. Upon his resignation from the Council after five years ofcontinuous service, he received a very complimentaiw testimonial from his colleagues. Air. liichhorn has made three visits to liurope, one in 1868, one in 1887 and one in 1889, remaining during the last two visits a year, and visiting nearh' all parts of the continent, also England and all of Italy.

Like most people of German origin. Air. Eichhorn is fond of social enjoy¬ ment, and athletic amusements. He is a member of the Harmonia Society, de¬ voted to the cultivation of music, and social relations. He is also a member of Khurum Lodge A. F. and A. Al.

His family con.sists of two sons, Alvin A., born February 14, 1854, and Arthur E., born August 27, 1856, and a daughter, Ottelie Ah, born November 25, 1858, now the wife of Air. J. W. Dreger, of Alinneapolis, and one unmarried daughter, Helma, born November 24, 1867.

Isaac Casper Seeley. Nearly the entire business life of Air. Seele3^ has been ])assed in Alinneapolis. Coming here at the age of thirty years, after a boyhood l)assed ui)on a western farm, a collegiate education procured by his own industx'v, a war experience of thrilling incident in the saddle as a dashing cavalry soldier, and months of crudest suffering in An¬ derson ville prison, followed by a six years' course in college and law school, he has for twenty years been one of the most active, enter])rising and successful business men of the city.

His arrival here was in the beginning of the year 1872. At that time he was a special agent for the Home Life Insux'- ance Company of New York, and after¬ wards was appointed superintendent of agencies for the states of Alinnesota, Iowa and Nebraska of the Security Life Insurance Compan\' of New York. So highh^ were his services valued by the compaii}' that his salary was increased three times, to $1,800 and expenses, in a single year. He had desk room in the real estate office of E. S. Corser & C(l, where he remained from 1873 to 1879. Here he became familiar with the real estate business, gradually dropped life insui'ance, and engaged in realty transac¬ tions. In 1880 he established the firm of 1. C. Seele}" & Co., and engaged in real estate, loans and insurance. The firm is now composed of himself. Geo. H. Willard and Chas. T. Harris. F'ormerly occupying an office in the Domestic block on Nicol¬ let avenue, the firm is now in a suite of offices on the ground floor of the Boston block, of which they have the care.

The business operations of Air. Seeley have been of a varied character, of consid¬ erable magnitude and attended with rare success. He has erected nearly one hun¬ dred houses and stores in difterent ^xarts of the city, having as a business ixolicy adopted the plan of improving his prop¬ erty and making it productive.

The Domestic block, built in 1880, for Geo. Blake, was the finest building which, up to the time of its ei'ection, had been constructed in Alinneajxolis. It had a handsomely designed gra^' stone front, was three stories in heighth, and stands today, an ornament to Nicollet avenue, in the vicinit\' of some of the finest busine.ss structures in the city.

The beautiful rural resort of Lake Park at Lake Minnetonka was largely planned and the improvement made by Mr. Seele3". Originally designed for a Sunda}^ sehool assembly, the association fell into financial embarassment, which was relieved 1)\' advances made b\" him, and another public spirited citizen. The property" being purchased b^'' them was completed b\' a liberal outlay of mone\", and conducted for several years. It soon became a favorite resort during the sum¬ mer months, and is one of the attractions of Lake Minnetonka.

Air. Seele\' has indulged his rural taste while cariwing on on a gigantic scale one of the fine stock - farms which have made the Northwest celebrated through¬ out the countr3^ "Brookdale Stock Farm" is on the Big Cottonwood near the Aullage of Alarshall, Lyon County, Minn. The farm consists of 2,000 acres of prairie and timber, and is equipped with houses, barns, granaries, a feed mill, and all the accessories needed for a farm. Besides the staple crops of wheat, corn and oats, he has gathei'ed the choicest stock of horses, cattle and sheep, which liberal expenditure with careful breeding can procui'e. This fine domain is not left to the management of hired agents, but has the watchful care and skillful over¬ sight of its owner, who has neverforgotten his youthful experience on the Michi¬ gan home farm.

Air. Seele\" married February 9, 1876, Airs. Julia AI. Willard, daughter of Heniw L. Hubbard of Alinneapolis. The\'^ have one daughter, Edith, born Oct. 5th, 1877.

Though one of the most active among the business men of the city. Air. Seele\' finds time to indulge his philanthroj^ic impulses in abundant labor in church and mission work, He is a member of

Plymouth Congregational Church. He was chairman of the building committee of the Young Men's Christian Associa¬ tion, while engaged in the erection of the elegant building which is the headquar¬ ters of that association. He is also a mem¬ ber of John A. Rawlins Post, G. A. R., and of the Association of Ex-prisoners of AVar.

He is also a trustee of Olivet College, Alich., where he received his academic degrees in course, and afterwards the honorary master's degree.

His ancestors were among the colon¬ ial settlers of Connecticut of Pilgrim stock. A branch of the family emigrated to Saratoga County, N. Y^., whence Na¬ thaniel Seeley, his father, passed to Mich¬ igan, where he taught school, and event¬ ually settled down on a farm. He mar¬ ried Sophia Ann Sherwood, a native of Rochester, N. Y.

Isaac C. Seeley was born January 22, 1843, in the township of Plainwell, Alle¬ gan County, Mich. He grew up amid rural surroundings, and engaged in rus¬ tic labors. He was an active lad, with e^^es and ears alert to whatever was passing in the world about him. He was seventeen years old when the presi¬ dential election occurred atwhich Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln were competitors, one of the most exciting Avhich has ever agitated the nation. He joined a wide awake club at Plainwell, and drove a wagon to bring voters to the polls. Of course he attached himself to the Republican party. About this time he left home to attend a seminar\' in preparation for college, and being obliged to provide for himself, he ob¬ tained and taught a school near Kala¬ mazoo, Alich. When the tocsin of war sounded throughout the country, calling the young men to arms, himself and an¬ other young man, were the first two re-, emits who put down their names from

Allegan County. He was rejected as too young to be a soldier. He ap¬ plied himself again to study and teach¬ ing, and after sixteen months again enlisted. He was mustered into the ser¬ vice August 14, 1862, and was assigned to Company "L," Fourth Regiment of Michigan Cavalr3'. This regiment has a brilliant record. It crossed the Ohio river at Louisville, and entered into the active campaign of Buell's arm^'. It faced the batteries of Gen. Bragg, and chased the dashing guerillas of Morgan into Tennessee. It shared in the cam¬ paign about Murfreesboro, and scoured Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. It shared in the gallant engagements at Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountains, and occupied Chattanooga. At Chiekamauga it bore the brunt of the fieiw as¬ sault of the rebel squadrons, and closed its brilliant record bv the capture of the Confederate chief. President Jefferson Davis. While private Seele\' carried a sabre and carbine in its ranks it had no less than fifty one engagements, through all of which he passed without a wound or a day in hospital. He was an ex]3ert horseman, was \'oung and vigorous, was temperate and watchful, and although almost daily charging the rebel cavalrv, or flj'ing before their impetuous attacks, he was never unhorsed or laid off from dut3'.

On the 20th da3" of June, 1864, Col. Pritchard's brigade of eleven hundred men, supported bv a battery of light artiller3q was ordered near Noonda3" Church, Georgia, to rescue a foraging party that was beset 1)3' the rebel eavalr3'. Advancing for five miles, the ad¬ vance was sto])ped 1)3' a swamp, across which was a single cordurov bi'idge. Corporal Seel3'e was dismounted and sent forward as a videt picket. While lying in his position prostrate, he had discharged his S])encer carbine twentv'- one times at fugitive horsemen cross¬ ing his line, when a shell burst at his side, fii'ed from the direction of his own camp. Looking behind him he dis¬ covered that his comrades had been driven back 1)3' a force of ten thousand rebels, and he and his fourteen comrades had been left alone on the picket line. The3' were picked up and sent to Ander¬ son ville militaiw prison. Here Corporal Seele3' was in a living tomb, more hor¬ rible in its torments than Dante's Infer¬ no, for six months. The prison site was a pine and oak grove of twenty acres on the side of a hill of redcla3'. Here 49,486 Union prisoners were received, of whom 12,926 died, mostly from diarrhoea, scurve3' and dysentery, brought on 1)3' exposure, starvation, and impurities of water and foulness of air. yVftertheclosc of the war Henry Wirtz, the chief instru¬ ment of ill treatment, was indicted for injuring the health and destro3'ing the lives of prisoners 1)3' sid)jecting them to torture and great suffering, with several counts reciting his barbarities. He was found guilt3'and was hanged. Cori)oral Seelev' had charge of the rations for i\ squad of the prisoners, and kept a roll of the dead. During the month of August 2,960 died, and during a single dav 180. He was kept at Andersonville prison from June 24, 1864, to September 13th, following. Then he was sent to the Con¬ federate militaiw ])rison at Florence, S. C., where his lot was onh' a little more tolerable. He was taken out for ex¬ change Dec. 17, 1864. Transferred from Charleston to Annapolis, Md., he was granted a furlough, and went home to Miehigan to recruit. But alas! the seeds of malaria had been in])lanted in his vig¬ orous frame, and no sooner had he reached his (piiet home than he was pros¬ trated with t3'])hoid juieumonia. I'or three months he la3'U])on a bed of suffer¬ ing, sometimes wavering between life and death. Careful nursing and a strong eonstitution at last restored him to convalescenee, and after a year's absenee he rejoined his regiment at Nashville, April 6, 1865. But the war was now draw¬ ing to a elose, and he was discharged at Nashville on the 8th of July, 1865.

In how man5^ ardent young souls did the excitements of arms and the exigen¬ cies of military service extinguish the love of letters. Not so with Mr. Seeley. He was now twenty -two, not too old to finish the course of education interrupted b3' the war. He entered the High school at Kalamazoo, and in the followingj^ear entered Olivet College, and graduated in the scientific course two 3^ears later. He, however, remained an additional year, pursuing higher studies, and working a l^art of the time in a drugstore to -pay expenses. He then entered the law de¬ partment of the Michigan Universit3^ at Ann Arbor, and after two 3"ears of stud3' graduated with the degree of B. L. in 1871. Returning to his native town of Plainwell he studied in a law office. After a 3^ear he decided to seek a new location, and went to Alilwaukee. Here he was induced to take an agenc3" in the life in¬ surance business, which brought him to Minneapolis in 1872, as stated in the ibrmer part of this notice.

Such is an epitome of an active life of fort3"-nine 3"ears. , Few exhibit in a greater degree the qualities of native force of character, perseverance, enthusi¬ asm and an unselfish interest in the wel¬ fare of others. He has been among the active citizens who have by their bold¬ ness and generosity built up the cit3^ He has infused a spirit of energy 133- his un¬ faltering courage, and above all he has b3' precept and example enforced the high ideal of Christian manhood. It is grati¬ fying to know that he has achieved fair success in the material accessories of life, giving him the ability to gratif3^ the im¬

Washington Yale. In the earh^ 3"ears of the present centur3q Elihu Yale and John Y^ale, brothers, were residents of New Haven, Conn., where the3' were born. The former was one of the founders of the college which was first chartered in 1701, and took its name of Yale in its second charter in 1745. He was taken to England by his father when ten 3'ears old, and never returned. He became em¬ inent in connection with the administra¬ tion of the East India Compan3q of which he became iDresident.

From John Yale, of New Haven, are descended the numerous, and alwa3'S re¬ spectable families of thename, now wide- 13^ scattered throughout the country.

Washington Yale first visited Minne¬ apolis in 1857, when he made some in¬ vestments here. From time to time he paid the growing city visits, and in 1871 removed hei'e, and has since made the cit3" his home. Mr. Yale is a native of Connecticutt, where he was born about 1812. In earl3' life he was a printer, liv¬ ing and prosecuting his trade at Danbuiw. Conn. He afterwards removed to New Haven, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. The same business occupied him for man3' years in New York citv. Upon removing to Minneapolis Mr. Yale retired from business. He built a pleas¬ ant re.sidence on Thirteenth street, in the midst of a tract of nearU" fort3" acres, a part of which was the investment of 1857, and a part purchased in more re¬ cent years. The tract embraced the northerly part of the beautiful Loring Park, and the land laid out and platted as the Washington Yale addition to Min¬ neapolis. It is a beautiful tract, and is becoming one af the most attractive resdence districts of the cit3G the old school. He is a liberal patron of whatever tends to elevate the standard of public inoralit3', living with his estim¬ able wife in retirement, with no ambition to attract pvdilic attention or applause. A model of uprightness of life, and con¬ tentment with the allotments of provi¬ dence. Mr. and Airs. Yale have no child¬ ren.

foHN Wkslky Pkncp:. During a jieriod of twent\' -seven ^-ears, the time allotted for a generation of men. Air. lienee has been a resident of Alinneapolis, recog¬ nized as one of her wealtlu' citizens, and engaged in varied interests of a financial and business chai'acter. In realitv, the most active period of his life had already" passed. For eighteen \ ears he had been building up his fortunes in a series of ex¬ tensive and successful business opera¬ tions, the ecpial of which seldom falls to the lot of man, and are known to few besides his most intimate associates.

Air. Pence was born in the town of Springborough, Warren CounU^ Ohio, on the 11th daj" of Februaiw, 1829. His father, Jacob Pence, was a prosperous farmer, and a prominent man in the region of Southern Ohio. He was a native of Petersburg, Va.,and traced his lineage to the English colonists. His mother was Barbara .\. Null, belonging to a faniilv of Oerman descent.

The famih^ wasa large one, consisting of eleven children, of whom John W. was the fourth. He was brought up on the farm, participating in its varied ojierations, and had the common advantages of a rural school in his vounger 3'ears. But his education was more in the school of practical affairs than in l)ooks. He was an active t'oung man, watching the abundant ojiportunities for a larger life which sjjread before him, and longing to enter the stirring field of active affairs.

At the age of eighteen he embarked in business for himself. Going to Alount Holh', a village in the countv whei'c lie was reared, he engaged in feeding stock. Not long afterwards a countr\' store was opened, a flouring and saw mill erected, to which was added a distiller^'. The region was prolific in corn, hogs and cattle, with the great markets of Cincinnatti and Louisville not farawa\\ While the plodding farmers were content to raise the corn and produce the swine, the keen sagacit\' of the young man saw the op]jorLunit3' to make larger profits bv the conversion of the grain into meat, which coidd be carried on on a large scale. The business prospered, and at the end of about eight 3"ears, being well established, was sold out. Taking his capital to a moi'e central location he established himself in the same business at Columbus, with a partner, under the stvle of Pence & AIon3'penn3'. Buying a flouring mill and distiller3', these were operated on a large scale, and the 3'ards filled with hogs, as many as ten thousand at a time. After the war commenced the business was closed, and Air. Pence went to Louisville, where in 1862 he engaged in the produce commission business in compan3"with a brother, under the name of E. H. & J. W. Pence. During the con¬ tinuance of the war, under the inflation of prices and the immense demand created 1)3' the armies, the produce business was veiw active. At the same time Air. Pence continued to feed a good many hogs in Ohio, for the product of which there was a gTcat demand. This business was con¬ tinued tintil the close of the war.

Air. Pence, now, after eighteen years of most exacting business life, found him¬ self with impaired health, and sought a change of climate and occupation where he might recuperate. .Among his earlv associates in business had been Air. E. !-'.

Drake, formerly of Xenia, Ohio, who had removed to St. Paul and become largely interested in railroad building. Through his representations he visited Minnesota, and preferring Minneapolis to St. Paul, where Mr. Drake resided, he took up his residence here in 1865. He had accumu¬ lated a fortune sufficient for his needs, if not to satisfy his ambition; but found inviting fields for investment, and his restless mind could not remain in inactiv¬ ity. He soon took a large financial inter¬ est with Mr. Drake and several other citizens of St. Paul and Minneapolis in the St. Paul and Sioux City railroad. This entailed at times heavy contribu¬ tions of capital, but was carried through imtil the completion of the road and its consolidation in the Omaha railroad system .

Soon he joined with Judge W. W. Woods, whom he had known in Ohio, in establishing the City Bank. It was at first a private bank, but was incorpor¬ ated in 1872 as a State bank, and has ever since been conducted as such. Mr. Pence became president of the bank and continued in that position until his absence in California rendered his resig¬ nation necessary'. He, however, contin¬ ued a director of the bank until the ])resent time. From its organization he was associated with Mr. T. J. Buxton in the management of the bank, and Mr. Btixton succeeded him as its president. For the accommodation of the City Bank, the fine brick block fronting the suspension bridge when built, but now the City Hall, was erected. In this the National Exchange bank had its place of business, as well as the City bank. It was the very center of business of the city at the time of its erection.

About the same time Mr. Pence built the Pence Opera House on the opposite corner of Hennepin avenue and Second street. It contained the finest theatre which had ever been opened in Minneap¬ olis, and its public dedication in 1867 was the occasion of an enthusiastic pub¬ lic meeting, which was made a veritable ovation for its proprietor.

He made many investments in and about Minneapolis, with good judgment. Among them was a forty acre tract beyond Fifth street north, which is now covered with the tracks of two of our most important lines of railroad, and is the center of an active business.

When the Gogebic mineral range in Northern Wisconsin first began to attract attention by its exhibition of wealth in iron ore, Mr. Pence, in connection with Hon. S. P. Snider, invested largely in mineral lands upon the range. The Gogebic Development Company was organized with acapital stock of $2,000,- 000, which handled some of the richest propert3" on the range. The famous Pence mine was opened on the propert}'", and has for \'ears been one of the large producei's of bessemer ore in Northern Wisconsin. In later 3^ears Air. Pence has turned his attention, among other en¬ gagements, to farming. He owns the Gi'and View Stock Farm, adjoining the village of Benson, Swift count\', Minn., consisting of twent3^-one hundred sixt3" acres of farm land, all under fence, and much of it under plough. It has twent3^- five thousand dollars worth of buildings and five hundred acres ingrain. Here are to be found the choicest strains of thor¬ oughbred cattle and some good horses. This princely estate would be sufficient to tax the powers of a superior farmer, but affords onl3' pastime to one whose operations have been on so gigantic a scale.

Mr. Pence is a large land ownerin the Dakotas, both Noi'th and South, within the lines of the Northern Pacific land grant. His holdings have been as large as one hundred thousand acres, but at

Mr. Pence married in 1871 Miss Laura Lwall, then a resident of Minneapolis, a lady of much beauty and refinement, who after about ten years of married life, died, without issue. He spent much time while his beloved comjjanion lived in travel, passing several winters on the Pacific coast and in the South. He has since made trijis of pleasure and recrea¬ tion in Europe.

Duringrecent years Mr. Pence's health declined, so that he has been unable to pursue the active life of his younger years. Yet he retains in considerable measure the vigor of his mind and the rare financial capacity' which has distin¬ guished his career.

As a business man he has jjossessed unusual skill, enterprise and sagacity. He has been bold in improving opportu¬ nity and prudent in guarding the fruits of his industiw.

He is tall in stature, and until a recent nervous affection, was erect and active, with an incisiveness of speech which gives the impression of force of will and firmness of determinntion. He is, withal, agreeable and courteous in social relations, and has exhibited re¬ markable qualities of energy, sell poise and independence.

Edward Sa*xdk«.)rd Austin was born October 24, 1836, in West Troy, N. Y. His father, George Austin, was a sea¬ faring man, and served in the war of 1812, under Commodore Decatur. After the close of that war he became the master of a merchantman and was lost at sea with his entire crew. The earliest recollections of the boy Edward are of traveling in a Concord stage coach to Northampton, Mass., where he went to school one winter about twelve weeks, learning to read and write, and this was the onl\' educational opportunit}' afforded him in his 3'outh. He has, how¬ ever, acquired a liberal practical educa¬ tion while following his somewhat varied business career.

At the age of five, he went to live with an uncle in Hadlejq Mass., where he was emplo\'ed about the farm as gen¬ eral errand boA', scantih' clothed, rising earl\' and working late, and thus becom¬ ing discontented with his home. At the age of seven and one-half years, his sole wealth a Spanish shilling, at four o'clock of a summer morning he put himself enroute to Northampton, following the railroad track to Ashland, where for about two \'ears he was employed as a striker with a shoemaker, where he learned pegging shoes. At ten he went to Boston and shipped on board the " Flying Fish " as a cabin bo3q and made his first trip around the horn. Arrived at Yalparaiso about one hundred da3's out from New A'ork, the "Flying Fish'' dis¬ charged her cargo and ran to Peru, where she loaded with guano for Balti¬ more. Arriving in that port, he left his ship and went to New Bedford, where he shipped on board the "Uncas,'' a large whaler owned by Abram Howard, com¬ manded by Capt. Clark. His next two 3-ears were spent on board the " Uncas '' cruising for sperm oilamidst theWestern Islands and Canar3- Islands, around the Cape of Good Hope, through the South seas, touching at all points of import¬ ance, including the Society and F'riendh- Islands; thence to the Ladeones, off the coast of China ; thence to the Sandwich Islands, where preparations were made for an Arctic trip, where they spent one season. Leaving the North seas, they touched at Petropaulaski, a small town on the peninsula of Kamchatka where convicts from Siberia were sent and were emploved in fishing, ship-building, etc.

After leaving there, they encountered in the Japan sea a "white squall," or typhoon, and were dismasted. They rigged a jury-mast, however, and after a long and tedious voyage made Hono¬ lulu again, where he left the " Uncas " and went on board the "Emerald, a merchantman of New York, and shipped for "Frisco," from which port the "Emerald" sailed to Callao, where he left her and joined a mining expedition going to the head waters of the Amazon . This expedition was not a success and the boj^ soon found himself back at Callao, where he shipped on board of the " Georgianna," bound for London, re¬ maining there fourmonths, duringwhich the Crimean war broke out. He next shipped on board of the "Charlotte Jane," bound for Adelaide, Australia, where he staid for about a year. With the money which he had saved from his various cruises he purchased forty head of bullocks and five drays, with which he freighted copper ores from the mine to the coast. It was during his stay, in the early part of 1853, that gold was dis¬ covered in Victoria, and seeing an oppor¬ tunity here to utilize his teams to best advantage, he started out for the trip of eleven hundred miles across countrv. He was the second white man who had ever passed through this section of the island, and his passage attracted a great deal of attention from the natives, all of whom were friendly to him.

During this journey he was obliged to cross the ujiper end of the desert, or the horn, as it is better known, a section one hundred miles wide, in which there was neither grass nor water to be found. The expedition entered the desert at half past three in the afternoon and traveled until ten o'clock the next morning, when a halt was called until three, and the cattle were given a little water which was in the cask, after which they were yoked up for the remainder of the trip, but long before they reached the farther side they scented water, and the rest of the journey was made at the run. Sev¬ eral days were spent in resting the cattle for the rest of the trip, and thej^ reached Victoria just at the close of the shearing season. He loaded his drays with avooI and took them to Geelong, a large shipjjing town at the head of Fort Phillips bay. He then entei'ed at once upon the hauling of machinery and supplies from Geelong to Ballerat and Castlemain. He was quite successful in this, but tiring of the monotony of thelifehesold his teams and tried his hand at mining.

In this he was not particularly suc¬ cessful, and after a few months went back to his first love, and shipped on board the "James Chester" as second mate, and sailed to South America. On this voyage the first mate was lost at sea, and the young man was promoted to first officer. Arriving at Coquimbo, they took copper ore and sailed for Bal¬ timore. Off Cape Horn they encountered severe weather and were badl3' crippled. It became necessary to lighten ship, which they did b_v throwing eight hundred ton of copper ore overboard, and put back to Valparaiso for repairs. At that time there was no dry dock at this port and the repairs had to be made by divers going under the vessel, but they were not able to do a good job, and during the entire voj^age to Baltimore - some sev¬ enty da3fs - it was necessar3' to keep the pumps working day and night.

Upon arriving at Baltimore he shipped on board the "Wild Hunfer" for a run to Liverpool, where he left her and shipped on board the "Portsmouth" and made the run to Mobile hay, where a load of cotton was taken, whence they sailed for Havre, France. On this voy¬ age he was promoted to second officer. Leaving Havre they ran to Sunderland, where they took a load of gas eoal for New York. While at Sunderland, news was brought of the firing on Sumter. Most of the boys on board the " Ports¬ mouth " were American born, and imme¬ diately on the arrival of the ship at New York they left her and went to Boston, where they enlisted in the naval brigade and went at once on board the "Ohio."

After a couple of weeks spent on board this vessel a draft came for four hundred men to go to Fort Ellsworth to mount the guns and occupy^ the fort. They were sent under command of Capt. Wainwright; among them was Mr. Aus¬ tin. The guns were there mounted by them and they' remained in charge of the fort for four months. About two hundred of these men were taken to form "Foot's flotilla" which was the nucleus of the "Mississippi flo¬ tilla." While at Fort Ellsworth, Mr. Austin was promoted to the position of boatswain mate, and was ordered aboard the flag ship " Minnesota."

His first engagement was at the bat¬ tle of Powell's Point, where, on a picket boat with seven men and one twelve pound Howitzer, he returned the fire of the fort until the whole fleet came up to his re-inforcement and precipitated this engagement. Here he received his first wound. He was also in the battles of Roanoke Island, North Fork, Elizabeth Cith, at the conclusion of this engage¬ ment he was promoted for gallantry to the rank of master's mate.

At the siege of Little Washington, at Tar river, N. C., the " Commodore Hull" and the "Louisiana," two large battle ships, were stranded upon a sand bar and exposed to the galling fire from the rebel forts. They' signaled the commo¬ dore of the fleet that their supply of ammunition was exhausted, and volun¬ teers were called for to furnish them sup¬ plies. Mr. Austin, with picked crews selected by himself, made up a flotilla of eight boats, loaded with explosives, and went to the relief of the stranded vessels, after which he took orders from Major Gen. John G. Foster to General Spinola. For his coolness and bravery in the dis¬ charge of this duty he received " honor¬ able mention " in general orders promul¬ gated by the secretary of the navy. During the entire Civil war he was always prompt in the discharge of every duty, ready and willing to face any danger, holding his life of no great value as compared with the institutions for which his ancestry fought.

After the surrender of Lee, Capt. Austin was granted four months' leave absence and went to visit friends in Maine, where he was married on the 7th of June, 1865, to Abbie V., daughter of William L. and Olive N. Clark {nee Rob¬ inson), an old and aristocratic family of Bangor, Me. This marriage was indeed a most happy one, and Capt. Austin has never had occasion to regret for one moment the step then taken, for his wife proved to be a helpmate in the fullest sense of the word, and through all the changing events of the y'ears that have passed, has, by' her loy'alty and devotion, by her courage and faith, ably assisted him in every' undertaking. After three days the honeymoon was cut short by orders requiring him to report to Admiral Bell, in Bi'ookly'ti navy yard. He was assigned duty on board the " Wy'iiooski," a fourteen gun boat, commanded by Capt. Cooper, and was later assigned as an expert to make tests cm board the " Algonquin," where he remained for the year.

accepted, but after tedious delar^s was granted leave of absence for six months, and in the spring of 1866 came to Minne¬ apolis, where he received his discharge. He formed a partnership with Major Fairfield, and opened a small grocery store on Washington avenue, corner Third avenue south. This was the second store erected on that avenue. The busi¬ ness was very humble, and Mr. and Mrs. Austin lived in the upper storr' of the small wooden building, and by economy and thrift managed to get a small start. He afterwards associated himself with the firm of Anthony Kelly & Co., as their representative in the Northwest, and after a year's employment on salar3^, was given an interest in the business and remained in partnership with that house until 1877.

One would suppose that after all these years of excitement and danger Capt. Austin would have been glad to settle down and I'emained in the quiet of his old home, but he preferred to build up the trade of the Northwest, and was in advance of the railroads and civilization and constantU' exposed to hardships and dangers.

In 1877, with his wife, he removed to Baldwin, Wis., wherehe bought the busi¬ ness of Bailey & Bartlett, general mer¬ chants, which he continued for three 3''ears, after which he built a lai'ge saw mill, four miles south of that place, and commenced the lumbering business and built up the town of Wildwood, which stands as a monument of his thrift and energy. He built sixteen miles of rail¬ road, brick 3mrds and manufactories, and made the " wilderness to blossom like the rose." During a part of this time Sen¬ ator Sabin was associated with him as partner. In 1891 he sold his business there and returned to Minneapolis, where he is now, with his wife, a permanent resident, having large real estate invest¬ ments hei'e, as well as extensive mining interests in Idaho. From his first ac¬ quaintance with this cit3' he has been a firm believer in her future and most loyal to her interests. A prominent charactei'- istic of the man is his unfaltering loyalty to an3" cause or fidend he may espouse. No reverse of fortune, no villainous at¬ tack of enemy can shake his loyalty or mov'e him in an3'^wa3q save that heelings the closer and the more earnestly strives for the advancement of the cause, or the interest of the friend.

He enjo3"s to a remarkable degree the eonfidence of his business associates, and amid all the changing ev^ents of a long and successful business has indeed pre¬ served his integrit3^ unimpaired.

C. C. Dunn. The State of Vermont has furnished Minneapolis with some of her shrewdest and most successful busi¬ ness men; it might almost be called the cradle of commercial prosperity, so large is the number of energetic and well-to-do men who were born in the old Green Mountain State. Among the Vermont¬ ers who brought their push and pluck to Minneapolis was Charles C. Dunn, a native of R3^egate, Caledonia county. Mr. Dunn was born February 20, 1841. He is of dii'ect Scotch descent on his father's side, his gimndfather having been born across the water. His father, John Dunn, was a Vermont farmei' - one ot the sturdy class who clung to the old State through all the excitement and tempta¬ tions of western emigration, and lived and died in the same house which he built when a young man. The life of the father was in striking contrast to that of the son. Charles was the youngest of five sons (there were also two daughters) and was brought up on the farm with limited opportunities for schooling.

the army and enlisted promptly, but was rejected on account of his health. Try¬ ing another locality IMr. Dunn enlisted again, but was again rejected b}' the medical examiner, and after a third failure gave it up and engaged with the firm of Cramton & Dunn of Rutland, Vermont. For four 3-ears he drove a tin cart, selling tin and Japan ware from house to house, taking barter in exchange.

In 1865 he went into the wholesale and retail stationeiw business, under the firm name of Saw3'er & Dunn, his part of the enterprise being to drive a whole¬ sale cart through Northern New York and Vermont, supplying the trade. After two 3-ears the business had greatl3- in¬ creased and sales were made only 113- samples, after the more modern st3-le. A little later the firm was consolidated with Cramton & Dunn, dealers in stoves and hardware, the concern becoming Dunn, Saw3-er & Co., and J. C. Dunn (brother of C. C. Dunn), J. W. Cramton, H. A. Saw3'er and C. C. Dunn being the jiartners.

Mr. Dunn maintained a ver3' prosper¬ ous business connection in the new fii'in until 1871, when his health havingfailed, he came west and invested in timber lands in Wisconsin. This was the begining of his success as a manager of west¬ ern investment properties. He organized the Jackson Countv- Bank of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and became one of the directors. Ex-senator W. T. Price was president.

In 1878, Air. Dunn went to St. Paul, founded a compan3' under the name of Dunn, Thompson & Co., and built the first refrigerator and cold storage house in that cit v. Within a year it was burned out with heavy loss. Air. Dunn returned to Rutland and engaged in farming and the merchant tailoring Imsiness, but the attraction of the West and its broader field for his abilities led him to disjiosc of

Entering the real estate business. Air. Dunn at once became an enthusiastic "hustler" and jiromotcr of the interests of the cit3-. He has alwa3-s been 103-aI and hopeful.

One of his manifest abilities is a talent for organization. In 1885 and '86 he engaged in the mining business at Neguanee, Alichigan, and was one of the organ¬ izers of the Buflalo Alining Company, of which concern he was a director and vice-jiresident The mine was sold in 1888. Air. Dunn then organized the Alidland Lumber &; Manufacturing Co. of Wisconsin, of which he is still vicepresident, and in 1892 formed the Alin¬ neapolis Disinfecting Co. and the North¬ western Fuel & Kindling Alfg. Co., of both of which companies he is general manager. During his business career he has organized some twent3' different companies.

On account of ill health and in the course of his Imsiness ventures. Air. Dunn has been an extensive traveler. Soon after the war he spent some time traveling through the South, penetratingon horseback as far jis the everglades of Florida, and having intmerous adven¬ tures incident to the unsettled political conditions din'ing the Klu-Klux times. A few years later he joined a part3- of exploiters in the Black Hills, and saw some exciting Indian campaigning.

Air. Dunn was one of the organizers of the Vermont Association of Alinneaiiolis. At the timeof thecensus troubles with St. Paul he pro])Osed the famous indignation meeting, and was largelv responsible for the successful arrange¬ ments for the occasion.

Robert Winthrop Cummings was the youngest of a family of six sons and three daughters born to Andrew Cum¬ mings, a forehanded and prosperous farmer, living at Williamsport, Lyeoming Co., Pa. His mother's maiden name was Mahafifey, of the same eounty. The ancestry of both parents was Scotch. The date of Robert's birth was June 19, 1825. His father died when he was only seven or eight years old, and the care of his boyhood devolved on an older brother, who was a prosperous business man. He was sent to a private academy at York, Pa., for an education, where he remained nearly eight years. After leav¬ ing school he taught for one winter. He was of an enterprising disposition, and at the age of nineteen turned his face westward in search of a settlement. He tarried aw^hile in Ohio, and then pushed onward toward the newer Northwest, and only stopped in his quest a short time in McGregor, Iowa. Thence he proceeded to the Falls of St. Anthon}'. It was in 1 844 that he first visited the place which three years later he made his home. The Falls of St. Anthony were still unmarred by the hand of man. No town stood upon its banks. The entire white population of the region north of Fort Snelling was less than fifty, and they chiefly half breeds, or discharged soldiers from Fort Snelling.

No civil government existed except a feeble county organization under Wis¬ consin Territory. No wonder the young man turned backward to the valley of the St. Croix, where a few settlers were taking claims and making the beginnings of a civilized community. He took a claim at Cottage Grove, and for the next three years busied himself in trying to open a farm. In the meantime, through the exertions of Franklin Steele, who had acquired a pre-emption title to the land on the easterly side of the Falls, im¬ provements were commenced looking to the utilization of the water power, and a few men with a family or two, were attracted to settle and make the begin¬ ning of St. Anthony.

Mr. Cummings left his claim on the St. Croix, about which a conflicting title had arisen, and made a permanent settlement in St. Anthony in 1847, the same 3^ear that Ard Godfrey, Caleb D. Dorr, W. A. Chaver, Calvin A. Tuttle, John Rollins, Luther Patch, S. W. Farnham, C. F. Stimpson, and Daniel Stanchfield became identified with the place. At this time Col. Stevens was still cam¬ paigning in Mexico, and R. P. Russell was a sutler's clerk at Ft. Snelling. Young Cummings was a vigorous r'oung man of twenty -two, with a good educa¬ tion, genial nature, polite manners, and ready to serve any honorable opportun¬ ity to engage his powers, and co-operate with others in building up a community. For forty -four years he continued to live on the spot which he first saw as an un¬ broken wilderness. Year b^'year he con¬ tributed to its growth, sharing in all its activities - a respected and influential citizen, and when called away in mature life, but with manly vigor unspent, left a metropolis filled with all the diversified products of a high civilization. It falls to the lot of few men to witness such transformations within the space of the active years of life !

Mr. Cummings made a claim in section thirteen, on the rising ground bej'ond the marshy strip east of the river. A few years later this was laid out partly as Maple Hill Cemetery, and the remainder as Ramsey and Lockwood's addition to St. Anthony, and is now embraced with¬ in the city" limits of Minneapolis. Claim making in those days was not an ab¬ sorbing occupation, so Mr. Cummings took employment in a store as clerk, keeping a vigilant tye upon whatever miglit promise agreeable occupation or fair profit. Nevertheless he was found co-operating in laying many good foun¬ dations in social and religious life. Thus in 1851 he joined in the establishment of Cataract lodge, of which he continued a member through his life, and the next year he became a trustee of John Potts Lodge No. 3, I. O. O. F. At the forma¬ tion of the fii'st fire compan3' in St. An¬ thony' in 1854, he was made first assist¬ ant foreman. He was also instrumental in the organization of the First llniversalist Church, on the East Side, which has since given place to the fiourishing church on the West Side, known as the Church of the Redeemer, of which for man}' years he was a devoted member.

When the cit\' government of St. An¬ thony was organized in 1855 he was elected alderman from the third ward, and thus served in the first citv council ever established in the cit}'. He was among the active men who in 1856 first organized the Republican party in St. Anthony. He was also elected a count}' commissioner at the special election in 1860, when a new county organ¬ ization was effected. But he was noi ambitious of political honors, and only accepted positions which were urged up¬ on him, from a sense of duty, and retired from them as soon as lie found oppor¬ tunity.

It was about the year 1854 that Mr. Cummings opened an office and em¬ barked in the real estate business, which he followed through the remainder of his life. To this he added insurance and lo.ans. His real estate transactions were many, and of no inconsiderable magnitude. Besides his interest in the Addition which was platted from his original claim, he laid out the additions known as Cummiiig's, Cuniming's Sec¬ ond iind Cummings & Brott's. He was never what has been known as a

" boomer," but he dealt in real estate in a quiet way as a legitimate business, and made investments in lands with such good judgment that it brought him a large fortune.

His reputation for prudence and integ¬ rity was such that he was often made guardian and trustee of estates, and his counsel was often sought in respect to investments by those of his acquaint¬ ances who had been bereft of their nat¬ ural advisers.

At the time of his decease he was president of the East Side Building and Loan Association, and vice-president of the Minneapolis Savings and Loan Asso¬ ciation. Mr. Cummings was married at St. Anthony, January 17th, 1854, to Miss Martha J. Estes, who, born in Alaine, removed thence shortly after her sisters, Mrs. S. W. Farnham and Mrs. Charles I'. Stimpson, to St. .\nthony, accompanied by her parents. His death occurred September 11,1891. He had removed from the East Side to an ele¬ gant home at No. 2301 Portland avenue, where Mrs. Cummings now resides with their two daughters, Mrs. Minnie C. Winthrop and Louise Cummings, and their only grandchild, Louise Winthrop.

The death of Mr. Cummings was greatly de])lored in the community where he had so long lived, where he had been identified with so many lives, and with such diversified interests. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of a large circle of attached friends. He had the reputation of an honest, kind heartetl and benevolent man. He was not ambi¬ tious of plaee or ])rominence, but was rather content to lead a ((uiet life, devoted to his family and affairs, and delighting in the hai)piness of his asso¬ ciates. He was a most sympathetic man, fond of nature, social in disi)osition, and possessed of a very engaging man¬ ner. He was helpful and considerate ot the tmfortnnate. AboYe all, he took great delight and satisfaction in do¬ mestic life, which was to him an at¬ mosphere of contentment and affection.

In person he was tall and of com¬ manding presence, with an open counte¬ nance, lighting up in conversation with a most engaging smile. Of all the pio¬ neers, none excelled him in courtliness of manner and kind and courteous deport¬ ment.

David William Edwards. The mag¬ nitude of the life insurance business is only appreciated when one is confronted with statistics showing the capital in¬ vested or accumulated, the members who avail themselves of its benefits, the amount of premiums paid, and the enor¬ mous sums disbursed in fulfilling its obli¬ gations, It has become to a large num¬ ber of our people a trustee of their sur¬ plus income, a reliance for support in misfortune or age, and a relief from the dread of leaving loved ones dependent when the strong arm of their support maybe taken away. It has the business character of an investment and the soft and soothing touch of a benefience.

Assessment or Natural Premium Life Insurance is the latest phase of the sys¬ tem of life insurance, evolved after along experience, eliminating many inequalities in the operation of a rigid S3'stem, and reducing the cost of the life insurance to the actual requirements of the obliga¬ tions assumed.

This brief history is thus epitomized in the words of Doctor Edwards, presi¬ dent of the Northwestern Life Associa¬ tion of Minneapolis addressed to the Sixteenth Annual Convention of Mutual Life and Accident Underwriters held at Minneapolis in June, 1891 :

"When these conventions were organized,, as¬ sessment life insurance was in this country in its infancy. Few there were who dreamed of its pos¬ sibilities. Mountains of prejudice rose up to meet it on every hand. It was held up to ridicule and contempt by the representatives of the old system, which practically held the field, entrenched behind breastworks of gold. To meet such a competitor successfully upon the business arena called for men - men of brave and honest hearts, men of the finest intellectual and moral fibre, careful, calculat¬ ing men of undaunted courage and iron will ; and when such men were needed they came and took the infant and nourished it through childhood and youth, until now it stands before us clothed in all the dignity of a noble and perfect manhood, enjoy¬ ing the confidence of the world.

Facts show that this system paid during 1890 to the widows and orphans of the country the enormous sum of $46,500,000, and that it now has its strong arm of protection round nearly 3,000,000 of our people, protecting the benefi¬ ciaries in the fabulous sum of $6,000,000,000."

The Northwestern Life Assoeiation which Dr. Edwards so successfulh' ad¬ ministers, is the leading assessment com¬ pany'- in the West, if not in the entire coun¬ try, and is the best exemplification of his minute knowledge of the subject, and of his care and fidelity in the application of the principles of scientific insurance.

Dr. Edwards was born February 1, 1849, near Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. His father, David Edwards, belongs to the line of descent which includes the famous New England divine, and has been rep¬ resented by a David and Jonathan in every generation. He was born at Hadley, Mass. His mother's maiden name was Mary H. Allen. She was born, raised and educated at New Haven, Conn. David W. is the oldest son of a family of seven children, and was ush¬ ered into life in a log farm house. His earlj^ life was mostly spent on a farm, where he acquired habits of industry' and frugality. He was early taught that his mission was to assist his parents, which he faithfully did until 22 years of age, receiving only such education as he could get by attending school winters. He then stai'ted for himself In^ taking a course in a commercial college. Among other acquisitions he learned telegraphy.

obtaining the position of station agent at Heron Lake, Minn., where he eontinned for four years, putting in his spare liours in reading books on dentistry, which profession he had decided to enter. It was here that lie formed the acquaint¬ ance of Dr. J. F. Force, who has been his most intimate friend since 1873, and since 1878 a business and fellow officer.

He located at Le Sueur, Minn., in the sjiring of 1878, in the practice of dentistr}', where he remained for nearh' ten 3'ears. The estimation in which he was held 1)3" the profession is shown by his election at first as secretar3', and after¬ wards as president of the Southern Min¬ nesota Dental societ3',and later as secretaiw of the Alinnesota State Dental Societ3', of both of which he is an honoraiw member to this da3'.

While satisfied with his ])rofessional success, and without at all contemplat¬ ing engaging in life insurance as a pursuit, he was attracted to the stud3' of the .science and eagerlx-read all theliterature of the subject which came in his wa3'. He listened with attentive ear to the tales of agents setting forth with voluble tongue the merits of their S3'stems, or the marvelous success of their com j)anies. His attainments as an insurance ex])ert came to the knowledge of several life in¬ surance companies, that tendered him positions in their service of more or less importance. These were declined. Not until 1887 did he yield to the solicita¬ tions to enter the business. Making the accpiaintance of Air. Hemy Beemer, manager of the Northwestern Life Asso¬ ciation of Minneapolis, he was induced to dro]) his profession and take up the work of life insiirance. He was elected a director of the association, and at the first annual meeting was chosen vicepresident. This was soon followed 1)3- his election as ])resident of the conqiany

Dr. Edwards has more than a local fame in life insurance circles. He is a member of the National Convention of Mutual Life and Accident Underwriters of America, has served on their important committees and participated in their discussions, and in 1892, at Buffalo, N. Y., was elected vice president ol that organization At the annual conven¬ tion held in New York in 1890, xipon his invitation, the next annual conven¬ tion was a])pointed at Alinneapolis, where it assembled in June, 1891, and was ])racticall3' the guest of Dr. Edwards and his associate officers of the North¬ western Life. On this occasion he showed himself no less able as a public speaker than he was known to be skillfid as a administrator. His welcoming address was greatlv admired for its graceful periods, its forcible dealing, and its wise counsels. In addition to his official labors, he has for five years edited the Anchor, a ciuarterl3' publication devoted to the interests of his compan3', and the general science of life insurance.

Dr. Edwards married October 21, 1875, Aliss Mattie James, who was an accomplished teacher in the public schools of Columbia count3', Wis., where she was brought up. In 1882 the3" were greath" afflicted 1)3' the loss of two daughters, then their onh' children, in an epidemic of scarlet fever. At ])resent the3' have a son of eight years, and two daughters of six and four 3'ears of age. The famih' occup3' their own ])leasant residence at No. 31 30 Second avenue south.

Dr. lidvvards tookiq) life insurance at a ])eriod when the assessment s3'stem wns emerging from the embiyonic stage into a natural scientific svstem, and to its perfection he has contributed in no

Because this sketch has dwelt upon the professional character of its subject it should not be considered that he pos¬ sesses only such chai*acteristics as are employed in material interests. It is a commendable fact that he has employed his gifts as a teacher of revealed truth in the Sunday schools where he has lived. He was superintendent of the first M. E. Sunday-school organized at Heron Lake, and was honored with that position for ten years in Le Sueur. He has always l)een active in church and temperance work and is now trustee in two different churches in Minneapolis, and president of the Christian Temperance League of the city. It is such unselfish devotion to a noble work that develops the true character of a man, showing that above the sordid pursuits of the. world he culti¬ vates the sweet grace of the inner spirit.

Hobart O. Hamlin is lemembered as an upright, successful business man, a loyal and enthusiastic citizen of Minne¬ apolis, and as an unostentatious but active participant in things benevolent and Christian. Mr. Hamlin was born at Salem, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, on June 29, 1832, and died in Minneapolis on July 21, 1886. He was the son of Oliver Hamlin, a prosperous merchant. Like many others, he came West partly in consideration of his health.

In 1854 he arrived at the village of St. Anthony, and for a while was engaged in the store of Mr. Stanchfield as a clerk. During the fall of 1856 he formed a part¬ nership with Alpheus Rowell and opened a store tor the sale of general merchan¬ dise. This proved to be an unfortunate venture, for the new firm had hardly become established before the panic of

In the same ^^ear Mr. Hamlin was elected the first auditor of Hennepin county. This position he shortly re¬ signed, but in 1861 he was elected clerk of the district court, and held the office for the full term of four years. This was the extent of Mr. Hamlin's service in public office, but he was always much interested in politics, especially in muni¬ cipal affairs, and took an active part as a private citizen in working for the nom¬ ination of good men.

When his term as clerk of court ex¬ pired, Mr. Hamlin became associated with the firm of Gale & Co. This con¬ nection continued for eleven years. In 1877 he formed a partnership with Z. E. Brown and engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, under the name of Hamlin & Brown. The}^ were entirely successful and enjoyed the confi¬ dence of the business community, as well as of many correspondents in the East. This partnership continued until 1886, when Mr. Brown retired, and the firm became H. O. Hamlin & Co., with I). W. Jones and James MacMullan as partners. The business was conducted under this name until Mr. Hamlin's death.

The prosperity which came to Mr. Hamlin in the real estate business afforded him the complete satisfaction felt in success by a man who labors faith¬ fully, but who has higher aims in makingmoney than the mere amassing of wealtli . It is suggestive of his character, that, though he was released by assignment from his debts at the time of his failure in 1857, every dollar was subsequently paid. In all his business relations he was known as a man of sterling integ¬ rity.

C. Rockey. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. F. Chaffee, of the Method¬ ist denomination - the same minister who twenty' -four years later conducted the services at Mr. Handin's funeral. Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin began housekeeping in a modest way in a small house on Fourth street, near the court house. Later Mr. Hamlin bought a cottage on the bluff near Lowry's. The3' afterwards lived at the corner of Eighth street and Mar}' Place, where the First Unitarian church now stands, and subsequently in a house on Hennepin avenue, on the site of the Lyceum theatre. Thev moved to their beautiful home at the corner of Hawthorne avenue and Fifteenth street in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin have had seven children: Anna Mar\', Grant G., Oliver C., George B., Ernest T., Kate and Hobart O. Of these, the eldest and youngest, Anna and Hobart, are not living. The rest reside with their mother at the home on Hawthorne avenue.

Mr. Hamlin was one of the organ¬ izers of the Hennepin Avenue M. E. church, and continued an active member and prominent office holder. His atten¬ tion to church affairs and Chidstian and benevolent work was constant and un¬ tiring. He gave himself no rest in these duties. Sunday' was one of the busiest days of the week for him. His benevol¬ ences were very quietly bestowed. He liked better to have no one know what he was doing in this way than to have his name appear conspicuously^ on a sub¬ scription list. A gift of $10,000 to the Young Men's Christian Association building fund remained for some time anonymous. Mr. Hamlin was interested in the Young Men's Christian Associa¬ tion from the beginning. He was one of its early workers and president of the association for the y'ear 1874-o.

As prefacing what is to be seiid upon the architecture of Minnea])olis, it may¬ be well to call attention to the fact that building is not always architecture, but may become so according as it is beautihed and made pleasing to the eve by the artistic skill of the architect.

Thus while architecture cannot exist without building, building may, and too often does, exist without architecture. Such is the case in the present instance in our own fair city-, as in western towns generally- that while there are manymassive, ornate and so-called "tasty" bits of l)uilding, there are fewer "tastefid" bits of architecture. We will there¬ fore proceed to speak in the technical sense.

The ai'chitecture of new cities is always liable to be of a somewhat mon¬ grel character, owing to the exigencies of the case requiring a hasty- construc¬ tion, and the time allowed for the proper preparation of the guiding data : Mer¬ cenary considertition usually- taking ])recedence to the artistic.

Seldom is good architecture found either in mass or detail that does not represent extended study- and considera¬ tion. The majority of those intending to build even at this period in the historyof Minnea]xdis,' refusing the architect the time necessary for the liest solution of his problem.

Thus the city- has suffered much in the past, but later years have shown a marked change for the better, this being duelafgely to thcsentiment and influence of the many- eastern peojile who have made Minneapolis their home, and there stand among the later executed works many- sjiecimens well studied and de¬ signed.

Among those in the profession who have done much toward the elevation of their art may be mentioned Mr. W. C. Whitne3% Mr. Buffington, Mr. Haves, Messrs. Long & Kees and others; and among the better examples of well designed architecture may be included the New York Life Insurance Co.'s build¬ ing, portions of the Public Librarj^ the new Government building, the Court House and Cit\" Hall, the Minneapolis Club, the Law and Medical buildings of the State University, besides many less noted domestic and business structures.

Trade And Commerce

The history of the trade and eommerce of Minneapolis must of necessity be an account of such marvelous develop¬ ment and such astounding progress that it is difficult to make it appear to the un¬ informed reader as other than an enthu¬ siastic exaggeration of facts. A simple and unembellished story of the rise of commercial Minneapolis reads almost like a fairy tale. The single fact that from a unbroken prairie there should arise in only forty years a city ranking first in the whole world as a wheat market and producer of breadstuffs is without parallel in human experience. That the same city should in the same period become the greatest lumber pro¬ ducing point in the world seems quite as incredible. But these are undeniable facts. It is hardly strange therefore that many other lines of commercial activity have kept pace with the two great in¬ dustries which have made Minneapolis lamous. It is quite natural that whei'e two lines of business as distinct and in¬ dependent as the grinding of flour and and the sawing of lumber should reach such immense proportions theconditions must be such that most lines of general business would find at least a large de¬ gree of prosperity. It is hojred that these suggestions will remove all suspicions that this chapter is in any sense a socalled "boom" article. In the case of Minneapolis the facts are of themselves so positive and emphatic that even the most ardent admirer of the city has no need of amplification.

In 1848 the first store was o])ened at the E'alls of St. Anthony. It was a small establishment of the kind usually found in frontier villages. That was the begin¬ ning of the commercial history of Minne¬ apolis. In the 3'ear 1891 the eitj" re¬ ceived 57,000,000 bushels of wheat, pro¬ duced 7,434,098 barrels of flour, received 477,839,977pounds of general merchan¬ dise and shijoped nearlv as much, did a jobbing business approximating $200,- 000,000, and had a record of $305,000,- 000 bank clearings. This almost magi¬ cal development can not be accounted for sinq)ly by the well worn ])hrases "enterprise," "business i)ush," "Yankee shrewdness," and the like. It is true that no eit3' has been more fortunate in the character and ability of her leadingbusiness men than .Minneapolis, but

The magnificent water power af¬ forded by the Falls of St. Anthonj" ranks first as the primary" cause of the commercial supremacy of Minne¬ apolis. Had the falls not existed, an\^ one of a dozen eligible spots along the upper Mississippi might have l)ecome the site of the metropolis of the Northwest. The water power attracted the early settlers and nurtured the in¬ fant manufactures. Once well started with the friendh' help of the falls, the other existing conditions worked out the prosperity of the city.

Geographical position must next be considered. The heads of navigation of the Mississippi river, and of the St. Lawrence and great lakes water¬ course are within 150 miles of each other. Be^'ond, to the west lies a wondrously fertile plain. The logic of the situation demanded a great distributing point at one or the other locality. A great water power and a then easier com¬ munication with the East and South, cast the die in favor of Minneapolis. The beginning once made the supremacy' was easil}' maintained.

But if Minneapolis was well located theoreticalUq an examination of the de¬ tails of her position shows a condition of affairs most admirably" adapted to de¬ velopment. A 3^oung city depends large- 13' upon its immediate surroundings for business; about Minneapolis is a most excellent farming countr3'. The earl3' lines of commerce are along the water courses; Minneapolis is at the head of navigation on the Mississippi river and all the important streams of the state converge in the immediate vicinit3'. Nothing could have been better for the develo2Dment of embryo commerce. When the railroad building era came in the lines of traffic and were so well defined that all roads led naturally to the Min¬ nesota Rome. These railroads now fairly "gridiron" the richest wheat belt in the world, and throughout that great area there are but few points for which MinneajDolis is not the nearest and the most natural market. Still more unique is the relation of MinneaiDolis to the great pine region of the upper Mississippi. The river (and its tributaries entering above Alinneaijolis) drain a basin containing a larger area of pine land than an v other river in the country. This jjine timber can be most convenienth' sawed into lumber at Minneapolis, and the river af¬ fords a direct and inexpensive highwa3'. The pine is practicalh' inexaustible. Large areas of hardwood are also acces¬ sible.

To still further examine the conditions of fortunate location is to find a multi¬ tude of reasons for the development of Minneaj^olis business interests. Byway of the great lakes, or by rail via Sault Ste. Marie and Canada, Minneaiaolis has as cheaji transportation to and from the seaboard as Chicago. This places her on an equality with Chicago as a distrib¬ uting market for points at equal dis¬ tances from each, and at an advantage in a region embracing Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wash¬ ington, Oregon, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of Wiscon¬ sin, Iowa, Missouri, Indian Territory and Texas. This advantage is best shown in the accompanying map. Points North and West of a line drawn from near Sault Ste. Marie in Noi'thern Alichigan to the Rio Grande in Southwestern Texas are nearer Minneapolis than Chi¬ cago.

r the Civil war there was a period of the utmost activitA'in things financial. Min- [ neapolis may be said to have been "just D in time" to reap the benefits of this re¬ action. Railroad enterprises were num- I erous; transportation facilities were just f what Minneapolis needed. Immigration e was accelerated ; Minneapolis needed r farmers to till her tributary plains. Lib- » eral land laws made the reclaiming of the

Through her pecidiar situation, Minneopolis jn'ofited by this condition of affairs in greater proportion tlian any other city in America. The development of the country tributary to Minneapolis has never been excelled in ra])idity and solidit}'.

Territory Commercially Tributary To Minneapolis

prairie farms possible to every one. It was an era of invention. Improvements in machinery again and again cheapened farming operations until finally the selfbinder - the crowning invention of the century in farm machinery - reconstruct¬ ed agriculture and made the raising of grain a business. Bonanza farms sprang into existence. It was possible to raise wheat, grind flour and export it to Europe at i)rices never dreamed of before.

acter of immigration. The first settlers were the sturdy, shrewd Yankees and the}' have continued to predominate. The infltience of this wholesome New England element has been most advantageoiis. Climatic conditions also broiight to the Northwest that class of the foreign immigrants coming from the northern countries of Europe - by far the most desirable foreign element.

character preclude the fullest discussion of all the influences contributing to the ])resent commercial status of Minneap¬ olis, and of necessity must touch upon some subjects mentioned elsewhere at length in the history.

Pioneer Days

liarly commercial transactions in the I'egion where Minneapolis now stands were conducted in a thoroughly prim¬ itive manner. Barter took the place of cash sales and the means of transporting goods to and from the embryo commer¬ cial center were hardly superior to those possessed by the savages. In fact the Indians themselves were among the lead¬ ing traders at first.

Early in the century the trade in furs and pelts began to be a source of revenue to a few hardy pioneers. The first point at which such traffic was carried appears to have been at what is now St. Peter, on the Minnesota River. Later Mendota, on the Mississippi between Minne¬ apolis and St. Paul, became a trading ])ost. To these points the furs were brought in packs or on sledges, and they were conveyed down the river in canoes and keel boats. But im- ])rovements soon appeared. In the 3^ear 1823 the first steamboat arrived at I^ort Snelling. From that time commu¬ nication with the east and south rapidly became better, but formore than a third of a centuiw transportation facilities in a westerly direction remained very crude. In 1826 the now almost forgot¬ ten "Red River cart" was invented. The first of these famous vehicles was con¬ structed at St. Peter, for the purpose of transporting goods to and from the Sel¬ kirk settlements in the Red River valle\\ It was made entireU" of wood and leather. A rude box or rack mounted on two wheels with wooden tires, was the principle of construction. The cart was strong, and though not durable from the standpoint of city pavements and paces, was fairh^ well adapted to the soft prairie soil over which it traveled and the slow movements of the oxen which usually furnished the motive pow¬ er. Each cart cost about $15.00. Hun¬ dreds of these carts were built after the original model. Until the :'ailwa3's pushed westward in the 60s the Red River carts were the principal means of transportation of goods from Minneapo¬ lis to the western and northwestern poi'tions of the state.

To R. P. Russell is conceded the honor of having opened the first store in Min¬ neapolis. His establishment was founded in the fall of 1847 on the East Side, then St. Anthony. At that time there was no settlement on the west bank of the river and the name "Minneapolis" had not been invented.

In 1849, William R. Marshall, after¬ wards Governor of Minnesota, opened the second store in St. Anthon3', and the third followed the same year - a branch ofP.Choteau& Co., established b3^ John G. Lennon. Franklin Steele and John H. Stevens opened the fourth store in Ma3s 1851; the firm was John H. Stevens «& Co. Other pioneer merchants were J. P. Wilson, R. P. Upton and E .& S. W. Case. These business enterprises wei'e all of the "general store" variety. They all made immediate efforts to secure a part of the business of the Red river traders and gradually worked up a traffic in this direction. It was simply an exchange of ordinary supplies and cheap fancy articles adapted to trade with the Indians for the furs and pelts of the wild animals of the northern part of the State. This was the nearest approach to wholesale trade which the earl3^ days could boast.

The first store on the West Side was opened on October 7th, 1853, by Thomas Chambers, in a building owned by Col. John H. Stevens, on Bridge Square. Dur- ing the following 3'ear Col. Stevens pkit ted his farm and commenced the sale of lots, and nine stores were started before the close of the season. 1. 1. Lewis & Co. put in the "largest stock of goods, out¬ side of Fort Snelling, in Hennei)in count}'." The first hardware store was opened by E. H. Davie and John Califif. j The first blacksmith sho]) was estab¬ lished by Levi Brown, of Maine; Jas. FI Bradley started a carriage factory ; Geo.

I the first tin shoj); John M. Anderson the I first book store; Wm. G. Alurphy the first harness shop; A. K. Hartwell the first insurance agency ; (ieo. M. Bertram the first merchant tailoring establish¬ ment; George N. Fro])])er and Carlos Wilcox the first loan and real estate office; John Morrison the first gun shop, and Mrs. .X. Morrison the first millinery ! store.

Such were the feeble beginnings of commercial greatness in Minneapolis I pro])er. Other merchants established in I 1 854 were Samuel Hidden, Warren Samp- . son, W. D. Babbitt, Jackins & Wright . and James B. Mills.

been growing apace. She coidd boast in the sjji'ing of 1854 (when Alinneapolis . had onl\' nine stores) a list of merchants I including K. P. Upton, Henry Reynolds, il> Walker & Gardner, D. Baldwin & Son,Z. i E. B. Nash, Edgar Nash, Dr. H.W.Whitef. more, James .'\. Lennon, Richard Fewer, Ij S. Stanchfield, R. Ball, J. C. McCain, J. !(- Piddington, Samuel Ross, N. Hendiw, John Orth, John G. Lennon, J. P. Wilson, N. Holder, E. P. Mills, Holmes & Toser, A. King, James C. Tufts, John Holland, J Joseph McAlpiu, J. R. McFarland, A. Bacon, S. C. Clark, John Wensinger, J. J. Kennedy, Vanderpool & Wolds, Will¬ iam SjK)oner, O. W. Stoughton, W. F. Cahill and S. L. Vawter.

The two villages continued to thrive from this time on as one commercial community, though they jmcscrved sepa¬ rate municipal arrangements until 1872. In 1855, there were seventeen stores in Minneai)olis ; in 1857, there were fortytwo. The first drug store in Alinnea])- olis was opened in Sei)tember, 1855, by Savory & Horton. By this time both towns were growing rapidly. The arrival of new business men with ca])ital and energ}' became too frequent for de¬ tailed chronicling. Village methods were still in vogue, however. Neither town could count 5,000 inhabitants. There was not a railroad to facilitate transpor¬ tation and steamers were " few and far between." It is worthy of note that until May 24th, 1854, there had not been a dray in the streets of either town. The frequent mails that are regarded as necessities in business at the present time were unknown in the '50's. On October 15th, 1857, a daily mail to Prairie dn Chien was established, much to the delight of the merchants at the Falls.

Among the ])romincnt citizens who made beginnings in 1857 were O. M. LaraxA-ay in the grocery and provision business, and R. J. Mendenhall, Cyrus Beede and R. J. Baldwin in banking. George A. Brackett commenced business the following year. This was the begin¬ ning of a remarkably successful career as a merchant £ind public spirited citizen. About the same time John S. I'illsbury founded the hardware house of J. S. Pillsbury& Co., with which he remained con¬ nected until the magnitude of his other interests and the reqxiirements of public trusts obliged him to withdraw. In 1851), John Dunham £ind H. O. Hamlin, both prominent business men during the later years of Minne<apolis prosperity, were counted among the grocers of Min¬ neapolis.

Roswell P . Russell . Strange trans¬ formation is that which has changed the solitude unbroken by human voices into the dissonat roar of the mart of a popu¬ lous empire, within the active life of one who still participates in its busy life.

R. P. Russell is the first white man, now surviving, who looked upon the Falls of St. Anthony, in its almost pris¬ tine wildness; the first who established business upon its banks; the oldest liv¬ ing owner of its soil, and the first, who selecting a picturesque claim on one of its emerald lakes, still makes the place his home, though changed from the country farm to the center of a populous suburb. He was a pioneer of the pio¬ neers. His hand laid the foundation stones of her magnificent superstructure, and has not been inactive, while all the courses of her substantial edifice have arisen. Most appropriately can he adopt the succinct narrative of the Latin pioneer, "Quain vicli, et quoniw pars magna fiii.'''

R. P. Russell is a native of Richmond, Chittenden Co., Vermont, born March 15, 1820. Among the boys who attend¬ ed the village school was Henry M.Rice, with whom, at the early age of sixteen, he bade adieu to the hills, and sought occupation and adventure in the West. Lingering for two or three years at De¬ troit and Kalamazoo, he received an in¬ vitation from his schoolmate to joinhim as assistant in disposing of a stock of goods with which he had been intrusted, at the distant and almost unheard of frontier post of Fort Snelling. A lad of nineteen, full of coui'age, undaunted by the perils of the wilderness, stimulated by the hope of adventure, and little fore¬ seeing the career in which providence was directing his steps, he accepted the offer and joined Mr. Rice at Ft. Snelling late in the autumn of 1839. At Prairie du Chien he took a Mackinaw boat and made his slow and toilsome wa\" to La Crosse, where his further progress was stopped by the freezing of the river. The partj^ now betook themselves to the only remaining resource, and made their way along dim Indian trails on foot. The second night out they lodged in the hut of an Indian farmer, where they paid $2 for three pqunds of pork. The3^ arrived at Fort Snelling Nov. 5, 1839. The only white inhabitants of the region at that time were Indian traders, missionaries and sc Idiers. Here Mr. Rice engaged in trade assisted by Mr. Russell. His customers were soldiers at the fort and Indians, with whom he exchanged goods for the products of the chase. Mr. Russell re¬ mained in this emplovmient until 1847, when he became interested at St. Anth¬ ony falls, and the following year became a permanent resident.

In 1837 Sergeant Carpenter of Co. A, Fifth Regiment, U. S. Infantry, made the second claim at the Falls of St. Anthon3q that ofMaj. Phunpton, afterwards pur¬ chased by Franklin Steele, being the first. It extended along the east river bank from Boom island to the ferr3q after¬ wards occupied by the suspension bridge. The claim was sold to a soldier by the name of Brown, and by him to Peter Quinn, and in 1845 an interest in it was purchased by Mr. Russell and a son-inlaw of Quinn named Findle3'. The next 3'ear the claim was sold to Pierre Botti¬ neau, w'ho laid it out as the town of St. Anthon3q and the lower part as a part of St. Anthony Falls.

In 1848 Mr. Russell, who had already opened a trade with the few white set¬ tlers in the vicinit3' and with the Indians who frequented the place, opened a store : in a two story log building erected b3' Franklin Steele, which he conducted for , five or six 3"ears. On the 3d of October, 1848, he married Miss Marian Patch, a daughter of Luther Patch, who had es¬ tablished one of the first homes at St. Anthony. The residents of the time were much amused at the courtship of the YOung people, which was often conduct¬ ed upon a flat rock at the side of the rap¬ ids, where love was kindled b\' the soft ripplings of the water and the gentle touch of the South wind. A married life of forty-four years has silvered their locks but in no way chilled their affection; while ten children have come to their home, and gone out to take their part in the active work which their parents have not 3'et laid down, onh- three of whom have been taken to final rest.

In 1851 Air. Russell purchased the claim of David Gorham, which extended from Lake of the Isles across the Terri¬ torial road, now Hennepin avenue. This land for manv years onlv valuable for its agricultural uses, has been laid out into blocks and lots, to accommodate the ex¬ panding population, and has been, more than t he various lines of business which he has undertaken and pursued with such industr}', thechief source of hiscomfortable financial condition.

In 1854 the famih^ removed to the West side of the river, taking up their residence on Russell sti'eet (now Seventh avenue south). Here thej' resided man\' years, until about 1860. Air. Russell built a commodious brick house upon the farm, where he has since resided most of the time, and which is still his home.