Minneapolis City (part 80 of 80)

Franklin Al Crosby

Franklin AL Crosby, who is almost wholly a product of Minneapolis, although born and partly educated in another state than this, is a son of the late .lohn and Olive (Muzzy) Crosby, natives of Maine and founders of the family in this city. The father was president of the Washburn -Crosby company at the time of his death, and during his life was one of the most potential forces in building up that colossal industrial institution, by his connection with which in a leading way he nuide Minneapolis and himself known throughout the civilized world in in<lustrial and commercial circles.

Franklin M. Crosby was born in Bangor, Maine, in 1876, and eanie to Minneapolis with his parents when he was four years ohl. He attended the Minneapolis public schools and prepared for college at the .Andover preparatory school in Massachiisetts. From that school he went to Vale University and from its academic department he was graduated in 1897. He then returned to Minneapolis, and for aliout one year he was employed in flour mills.

Mr. Crosby's inclination was, however, to trading. He represented Washbuni-Crosby Co. on the trading Moor of the Minneapolis Ctiamber of Commerce, and he has Iwen steadily connected with that organization ever since, rising constantly in its councils until he is now its president, having been elected to that ofiiice in 1913. He is also a director of the .Security National Hank, and has taken his father's place to some extent in the management of the Washburn-Crosby Company as one of its ilirectors.

Mr. Crosby is also active in the organized social life of the community as a member of the Minneapolis, Minikahda, Lafayette and several other leading clubs of the city. He was president of the Minneapolis club in 1908. In 1901 he was married in this city to Miss Harriet McKnight, a Minneapolis lady. They have six children, and their family home is at 2120 Park avenue.

Axel Albert Eberhart

Axel A. Eberhart was bom on a farm in Vermland, Sweden, April 28, 1876. His father was Andrew and his mother Louisa Olson and they came to St. Peter, Minnesota, when Axel was about 5 years old. Two years later they went to Nebraska to a farm near Lime Grove, where he reached his majority. His first schooling was about three months of each year in the country schools near Lime Grove and at twenty he began to earn the money for a course in college and attended the University of South Dakota, funds lasting, however, but three months. The next year he remained six months, and by so continuing completed the five-year Advanced Latin course in the Mankato Normal School in 1902. Completing the law course in the University in the spring of 1906, he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession, for two years being in partnership with Clinton M. Odell.

John N. Greer, principal of the Central High School and well known educator, was born at Davenport, Iowa, April 17, 1860, the descendant of Quaker ancestors who came to this country at an early date and played an important part in the colonial history of Pennsylvania, as members of its governing council presided over by William Penn. Mr. Greer was reared on a farm near Davenport, where the death of his father occurred when .John was but ten years of age. He attended the public schools of Davenport, and after graduating from the high school in 1878 as valedictorian of his class, spent some time teaching and then entered Grinnell college for further study and training. The education he sought and notably achieved in this institution was a preparation that would result in a worthy and competent success in the world's work and to this end he interested himself in every phase of education, winning honors in both scholarly and athletic pursuits, and finding time to secure further practical experience as a teacher by giving instruction in science. During his attendiince at college he formed an intimate acquaintance with Dr. Albert Shaw, now editor of the Review of Reviews, an association which did much to influence and enrich his latter career. He graduated in 1882, receiving the degrees of bachelor of arts and of science and member-sliip to the honorary society of Phi Beta Kappa. The master degree was conferred on Mr. Greer by Grinnell in 1885. After leaving college he sjient some time in the employ of the Central Union Telephone company and installed the telephone exchange at Cedar Rapids. Iowa. In 1884 after two years in this business he resumed his activities in the teaching profession, becoming principal of School Number 2 in Davenport, wliere he remained until 1888, when he came to Minneapolis to accept the position of principal of North High school. He served three years in this scliool and was then advanced to his present responsible position as principal of the Central High School. The twenty-two years of his association with this school have witnessed remarkable development in educational methods and an increase in attendance of from 500 pupils to 2200 and throughout this period his progressive and capable management and expert knowledge have made his services of inestimable value to the school system of the city. The establishment of the West school made a slight reduction in the attendance at other buildings, but the new Central building which opened in Sept., 1903, has an enrollment of over 2000 students and 70 instructors. This building, recognized as representing the most complete departmental equipments and advanced educational ideas of any similar structure in the country, embodies the plans and theories of Mr. Greer based upon years of study and experience. He has made every department of his vocation the subject of his keenest interest and careful application, striving to master every problem presented to the modern educator and winning much recognition from his fellow laborers through his efforts. Not only the mental training of the pupil has received his attention, but the physical as well. He has become an authority on school architecture and has given his influence to the maintenance of iiuf high athletic standard of the Minneapolis schools. He has given much time and thought to vocational courses and vocational guidance work and is getting some splendid results while others are talking about it. He is a member of various teachers' associations and compiled for Dr. Albert Shaw an educational history of Minnesota. Mr. Greer was married to Miss Elizabeth Russell, daughter of Mr. Edward Russell, editor of the Davenport Gazette. They have three children, Edward Russell, who is chief engineer for the Gas Traction company of .Minneapolis; Margaret, a graduate of the state university in 1913 with the honor of Phi Beta Kappa, and Abby, who is a student in the high school. Mr. Greer was a member of the Plymouth Congregational church for a number of years, but of late years has become an active supporter of the Christian Science church.

Louis Kossuth Hull

Louis Kossuth Hull is a lawyer in active practice in Minneapolis, where he has been engaged in professional work since 1887. He came to this city that year well prepared for the line of endeavor he had chosen as his life occupation by careful study in the law department of Yale University and two years' practice in New Haven, Connecticut, and in the Territory of Dakota. He also enjoyed exceptional academic advantages, and by energetic and judicious use of them obtained a first rate general education.

Mr. Hull was born at Lebanon, Connecticut, on November 9, 1861, the son of Commodore Charles and'Lucy Lincoln (Perry) Hull. His scholastic training was begun in Hopkins Grammar school in New Haven, and he afterward attended the academic department of Yale University, from which he was graduated in 1883. Taking up the study of law he entered the law department of the same university, and, after completing the course of study in it, received his degree of LL. B. from it in 1885. He at once began practicing in the city in which he had prepared for his profession. Going in the fall of 1885 to the Territory of Dakota he engaged in the law business as a partner of Hon. John E. Garland at present a judge of the United States Circuit Court, remaining there in legal contests until 1887. In 1887 he came to Minnesota to live, and here he has been active in the practice of law ever since. He has attained good standing at the bar, and is highly esteemed as a citizen and business man.

The exacting requirements which the law lays upon a practitioner have not, however, wholly occupied Mr. Hull's attention and energies. He is president of the Southern Minnesota Lumber company and vice president of the Union Lumber company, president of the Diamond Boiler Works and the Minnesota & Southeastern Railroad company. He is also a director of and the general counsel for the Security National Bank of Minneapolis, and connected in a serviceable way with other institutions and activities of value in promoting the progress, development and substantial improvement of the city.

Mr. Hull keeps closely in touch with the advance in his profession as an active and interested member of the American Bar Association. He has also taken an earnest and helpful part in public all'airs in both his native and his adopted state. In 1884 he was an alderman in New Haven and Connecticut's member of the National Democratic committee. In 1888 he was a member of the State Democratic committee of Minnesota and in 1892 chairman of the Democratic Central committee of Minneapolis. He is an ardent believer in the principles of his party and always a zealous worker for its success.

In church relations Mr. Hull is an Episcopalian, and his fraternal connection is with the Masonic Order, in which he is a Knight Templar in the York Rite and a Freemason of the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. While at Yale he was captain and for several years coach of the University rowing crew and captain of the football team. He was also a Skull and Bones man, and in the Psi Upsilon fraternity. In Minneapolis he belongs to the Minneapolis, Town and Country, Minikahda, Lafayette, Automobile and Elks clubs. He was married in this city on December 12, 1892, to Miss Agnes Oliphant McNair. He has his office in the Security National Bank and his residence at No. 21 Groveland Terrace.

Alfred Ellsworth Merrill

Alfred Ellsworth Merrill, lumberman, was born at Maidstone, Essex Co., Vt., May 28, 1845, son of Samuel Day (1810- 1891) and Louisa (Heath) Merrill. He was of sterling New England ancestry. His great-grandfather, .John Merrill, of English descent, was born at Haverhill, Mass., in 17.'>0. married Sarah Rowell, fought at Bennington, Vt., as a soldier in the revolutionarv war, was a first lieutenant stationed at

Plattsburg, N. Y., in the war of 1812, and died at Maidstone, Vt., in 1837. John Merrill's son Joseph, grandfather of Alfred E. Merrill, was born at Lisbon, N. H., in 1774, married Susan Day, was a volunteer in the 11th U. S. Infantry in the war of 1812, was at Plattsburg under Col. Dana, and died at Maidstone, Vt., in 1864.

Alfred E. Merrill received his early education in the district schools of Vermont. In 1855, Samuel Merrill removed with his family to Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming near Portage City, and the son later attended Lawrence University at Appleton, At the age of twenty-two he entered the employ of the lumber firm of George B. Bureh & Company at Necedah, Wis., his business talent and attention to detail soon gaining for him a partnership in that firm, which owned saw mills and extensive pine tracts on the tributaries of the Wisconsin River. Here, on the frontier, thrown in intimate contact with men of all types and stations, living in the midst of and overcoming the adverse conditions of an undeveloped region and continually subject to the impelling force of an active business, he spent sixteen years. Developed and equipped by this training and experience, in 1884 he removed to Minneapolis, where he engaged in the real estate and loan business. He soon became identified with many of the substantial business enterprises of his adopted city, and also entered keenly into civic, municipal and political affairs. In 1899, he became a member of the City Council as representative of the Fourth Ward, and this position by successive elections he thereafter held, serving uninterruptedly for ten years. During the first six years of this service he was continuously chairman of the committee on Ways and Means and a member of the committees on Water Works and Health and Hospitals. For the following four years he was the president of the City Council. His constant aim in the Council was to serve the people. He took the lead in much progressive legislation; to his initiative was due the appointment of the first pure water commission; he had a large part in securing for Minneapolis a complete and efficient pamping station and distributive mains as part of the water system; an effective garbage crematory plant, and a modern quarantine hospital. He introduced the ordinance establishing a comprehensive system of municipal accounting and to the great profit of the city, he continually applied to the conduct of its finances the same accuracy and care that his business training had led him to give private matters. His comprehension of public questions was clear and keen and his example of fearless, vigorous, unselfish, upright discharge of public duty served as an inspiration to his fellow-citizens. He was a man of balanced temper, genial disposition and (piick generosity, he was guided by strong convictions and high ideals and his character and personality made a strong impress on the community.

He was married Juno 30, 1S69, to .lane Summerside. daughter of George and Mary Summerside, of Necedah, Wis. There were three children, Nellie Louise, Roy Willard and Guy Summerside Merrill.

Index

General Subjects. Advertising, pioneer, in St. Anthony, 92, 93. Agricultural Fair, first in Minnesota at Minneapolis, 123, 124. Agricultural Society, Hennepin County, 123. "All Saints," first proposed name of Minneapolis, 97.

Banks. Clearings of in 1881, 1890, 1892, 1893, 145; first in St. Anthony, 169; first on west side of river at Minneapolis, 169; First National, 169; Northwestern National, 170 to 172; Security National, 172, 173; Minneapolis Trust Co., 173, 174; Minnesota Loan and Trust Co., 174; State Institution for Savings, 174, 175; Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings, 175, 176; Scandinavian-American National, 176; Metropolitan National, 177; St. Anthony F'alls, 177; National City Bank of Minneapolis, 177; German American, 178; East Side State, 178, 179.

Battles. Indians, between Sioux and Chippewas, in July, 1839, at Rum River and Stillwater, 46 to 49; of Gettysburg,, First Minnesota in, 134; Capt. Strout's with Little Crow's Indians at Kelly's Bluff and Hutchinson, 133, 158.

B^wn, Joseph Renshaw. Explores Afinnchaha Creek and disf»\ers Lake Minnctonka; makes first land claim in Hennepin County, and probably Minnehaha Creek and Falls were named for him, 36; planned organization of and named Minnesota, etc., 37; plans Minnesota Territory, 59. 60; Member of Canvassing Board at first State election, 129.

Churches. First in St. Anthony; Catholic, built in 1851, by Fr. Ravoux, 100, 101; Episcopalin 1852, 100; Methodist was first organized, 100; Congregational church building completed in 1854, p. 101; first churches in Minneapolis, 121; churches erected between 1880 and 1890, p. 142.

Crises in Minnesota History. Discovery of St. Antljony's Falls in 1680, pp. 7, S, 9; building of Ft. Snelling, 29; eviction of white settlers from reservation, 57, 58; treaties of 1837, pp. 50, 51, 52.

Carver, Capt. Jonathan. His account of a visit to St. Anthony Falls and Minnesota in 1766, with comments, 19-22; his descendant claims St. Anthony, 70; grandsons visit Minnesota, 33.

Elections. For first Delegate to Congress, 85, 86; poll list of first at St. Anthony, 86; in 1849 for members of Territorial Legislature, 86, 87; in 1850 for Delegate to Congress and county officials, 87, 88.

Firsts. White occupation of Minnesota, by Capt. Perrot, 15; steamboat at Fort Snelling, 37; white children born in Minnesota, 42; white women at F'ort Snelling, 42; piano in Minnesota, 42; marriages in Minnesota, 44; dwelling house on present site of Minneapolis, 44; store in St. Anthony, 67; business boom in St. Anthony, 67; ferry at St. Anthony, 73, 74; census in Minnesota, 75; newspaper in Minnesota, 79; court at St. Antliony, 84, 85; election at St. Anthony, 85; schools in St. Anthony, 90; steamboats at St. Anthony, 90, 91; bridge at St. Anthony, 199; post office in St. Anthony, 76; first in Minneapolis, 119; lyceum and public library in St. Anthony, 120; railroad in Minnesota, 134, 135; Public Library at Minneapolis, 137; court house at Minneapolis, 138; street railway in Minneapolis, 140; stores in Minneapolis, 151, 158, 159; merchant mill in Minnesota, 151; bank at St. Anthony, 169; bank at Minneapolis, 169.

Fort Snelling, originally called Fort St. Anthony, established by Lieut. Col. Leavenworth, 29; early history sketched, 28 to 33; eviction of white settlers from reservation of, 57, 58; reduction of reservation, 113. .

14; L'Huillier, by LeSueur, 15; St. Beauhamois, 18. Fourth of .July celebration, first in Minnesota at St. Paul, and second at St. Anthony, 92.

Hennepin, Father Louis. Sketch of, 3; ascends the Mississippi in 1680 and is captured by the Sioux, 4; incidents of captivity, 4 et seq. ; lands at site of St. Paul and is taken to Mille Lacs, 6; released and discovers St. Anthony Falls, 7, 8, 9; journeys toward Lake Superior and meets Du Luth, and returns with him to Mille Lacs; returns to Lake Superior and closes his career in America, 9 to 14.

Indians, Chippewa and Sioux. Send delegations to Washington in 1824, p. 43; tragedies between Chippewaa and Sioux; battles between at Rum River and Stillwater originated on present site of Minneapolis, 46 to 49; Sioux in vicinity of St. Anthony, 90.

Le Sueur, Pierre Charles, early explorer and resident. Member of Capt. Perrot's company in 1683, etc.; ascends the St. Pierre, builds a fort, and claimed to have discovered a copper mine, etc., 15; his visit to St. Anthony Falls described by I'enicaut, 16; claimed to have gone 300 miles above the Falls, 17.

Little Crow, Old or III. Holds 'council with Pike, 24; village at Pig's Eye described by Pike, 25; conference with Pike at mouth of St. Croix. 26; band in 1819 numbered 200, p. 30.

Mills, the olil Government, 31, 32; first at St. Anthony built by Frank Steele; dam completed in 1848, p. 67; established at Minneapolis on west side of river, 153; first steamsaw on West Side, 154; first merchant mill in Minnesota, 151; first private mill at St. Anthony Falls, 152.

Nicollet, Joseph Nicolas (or Jean N.). Engineer and astronomer. Visits, surveys, and describes Minnesota in 1836-37- 38-39; makes a Celebrated map of the region, describes St. Anthony's Falls, etc., 55, 56.

Pioneer, Minnesota, first newspaper in Territory, first number printed in St. Paul, April 28, 1849, 79; bposts St. Anthony in August, 1849, with description of situation, 80.

Prohibition. In St. Anthony in 1851, p. 99; "Friends of Temperance" organized in 1851, and territorial convention held at St. Paul, Jan. 1, 1852, p. 99; efTective in St. Anthony in 1852, p. 99.

and camps on Pike's Island, 22; makes treaty with Indians, 24; surveys and passes St. Anthony's Falls, 24; ascends the Mississippi to Pike Rapids and builds fort, and explores upper river on boat, 25; sets out on return and holds grand council with Sioux, April 11, 1806, on Pike's Island, 26; interviews old Little Crow, 26.

Pond Brothers, Gideon H. and Samuel W. Came to Fort Snelling in 1834 and built first house on site of Minneapolis, becoming first actual white citizens of Hennepin County, 44.

Plympton, Maj. Joseph. Commander of Fort Snelling in 1837- 38, p. 39; drives away settlers from reservation, 57, 58; makes a claim at the Falls in 1836, with others, 60; but claim was subsequently jumped by Frank Steele, 60.

Railroads. First in Minnesota, 134, 135; street, first in Minneapolis, 140, 153; Northern Pacific completed to Pacific Coast, 143; Soo Line, Canadian Pacific and Great Northern development mentioned, 142; motor line described, 143; Dan Patch Electric Railway, 148; grade crossings, 'controversy with city regarding, 149.

Sioux Indians. Proper name Dakota or Dahkotas, called at first by the Chippeways and others Nadouessioux, a term with various spellings in Caucasian languages. See Chapters I and II, and elsewhere; in War of 1812 and the British against Americans, 28; bands in Minnesota from 1798 or earlier, 39; bands about site of Minneapolis in 1830-34 and later, 39 to 42; treaties of 1851, pp. 102, 103, 104; great outbreak of, in 1862, pp. 133, 134, 158.

Slavery in Minnesota. Dred Scott sketch of and case, 45; Alexis Bailly, first citizen slaveholder in Minnesota. 46; Eliza Winston, case of, 130, 131.

Snelling, Fort, originally Fort St. Anthony. Established in 1819 by Lieut. Col. Leavenworth; early history notes relating to. Chap. IV; the garrison mill at St. Anthony Falls, 31; name changed, 38; social life at in early days; duels between officers, infrequent mails, 43.

Street Railway. First in Minneapolis, 140; electrifies its lines, 143; Thomas Lowry, leading spirit in, 143; constructs Conio-Harriet Line, builds Lake Street Cross-Town, Fort Snelling, and double track to Lake Minnetonka, 146; controversy with city regarding rates, 149.

St. Anthony. F'irst claims and settlers at. Chap. VII, pp. 59 et seq.; situation in, 1845; site surveyed and comes into market in 1848; first claims sold at Stillwater in September, 66; first surveyed, 72; citizens in 1849-1850, p. 89; Indians vicinity in 1850, p. 90; fails to secure county seat, 101; incorporation of, as a city, 125; first city election in, 125, 138; becomes part of Hennepin County, 125, 126; public library consolidated with Minneapolis, 137; consolidation of, with Minneapolis, 138; First bank, 169.

Seymour, E. Sanford, descriptive writer. Describes St. Anthony and the F'alls in 1849, interviews Hole in the Day and other chiefs, 78-79; visits and describes country between St. Anthony and Sauk Rapids, 79.

Sibley, Henry Hastings. Comes to Minnesota and Fort Snelling, in 1834, as agent of American Fur Compapy, 45; elected Delegate from Wisconsin Territory by Stillwater Convention and by people in 1848, p. 71; elected first Governor of Minnesota, 127, 128, 129.

Steele, Franklin. Lays foundation for a city at St. Anthony's Falls in 1838, p. 57; "jumps" Plympton and Scott claims at the Falls, July 16, 1838, p. 60; first postmaster at Fort Snelling, 70; make claims and builds cabins at St. Croix Falls in 1837, p. 53; controversy with A. W. Taylor, 94, 95.

Stevens, John H. Pioneer politician, henchman for Sibley, 88; opposes H. M. Rice and the Mitchell Whig faction, 88- 89; first settler at the original site of Minneapolis, 106, 107.

Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1825, with several Indian tribes, 43; of 1837, with the Chippewas, 50, 51; of 1837, with the Sioux, 51, 52; news of ratification reach Fort Snelling, 56; Traverse des Sioux and Mendota, 102, 103, 104.