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Redwood County Minnesota |
Biographies
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Redwood County Minnesota |
DR. LEMONT S. CRANDALL figures as the oldest medical practitioner in Lamberton, Minnesota, and dates his identity with the town from the year 1875. His life history is worthy of a place in this biographical record. and will be read with interest by many. Briefly, it is as follows:
Lemont S. Crandall was born in Allegany county, New York, May 27, 1835, son of Hampton and Sally (Bentley) Crandall, early residents of that county. In 1847 the Crandall family came west to Wisconsin and established their home in Dane county, that being the year Wisconsin was admitted into the Union of states, and there they lived for twenty years. Later in life the parents moved to Rock county, that state, where they passed their closing years, and where they died and are buried. Their family comprised three children,- Lemont S., Annie M. and DeForest, the subject of our sketch being the eldest and at the time of their removal to Wisconsin a boy of twelve years. In Dane county he grew to manhood. During his youth and early manhood he was variously employed, chiefly, however, in agricultural pursuits. From 1858 to 1860 he was a resident of Greene county, Iowa, and in 1860 returned to Dane county, where he was shortly afterward appointed postmaster of Utica, in which position he served acceptably until he resigned in 1863. He then came over into Minnesota, and in Sibley county enlisted for service in the Union ranks, going out as a member of Company D, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, and was in the army about one year, after which he was honorably discharged. Returning to Sibley county, Minnesota, after his army service, he engaged in the drug business at Alden, which he conducted there about two years, and at the same time took up the study of medicine under Dr. Russell's instructions. Later he attended medical lectures in New York. On his return from the east he entered upon the practice of his profession in Mankato, Blue Earth county, where he continued his residence and did a successful business until 1875, when he removed to Lamberton. Here he soon built up a large and lucrative practice, which he has maintained throughout the years which have intervened since then. and in connection with which he conducts a successful business in the drug line.
Dr. Crandall has been twice married. His first wife, whom he wedded in Utica, Wisconsin, was Eunice Campbell, like himself, a native of the Empire state. She died during their residence in Sibley county, Minnesota, leaving three children, DeForest. Marion and William. His present wife, formerly Mrs. Amelia Koenig, a native of Germany, he married in New Ulm, Brown county, this state.
During the more than twenty years Dr. Crandall has resided in Lamberton he has been actively interested in all measures intended to advance the welfare of the town, He was several years its postmaster, and has also filled other local positions of prominence and trust. Politically, he is a Republican, ever active and enthusiastic in the interest of his party; and, being a veteran of the Union army, is of course identified with that popular organization known as the G. A. R., his membership being in Colonel David Hughes Post, of Lamberton.
Source: Memorial of S.W. Minnesota, Pub. 1897 - Submitted by Gary Boomgaarden
Hon. CHARLES D. GILFILLAN has made for himself a reputation in business and political circles that numbers him among the eminent citizens of the state, yet he is one of the most modest men, and anything in the shape of fulsome compliment would be utterly distasteful to him. The work he has accomplished nevertheless speaks for itself, and the upright, commendable life of Mr. Gilfillan is so well known in his adopted state that the historian needs but to state facts, and the reader will see between the lines the many points of his character that well deserve eulogy.
Mr. Gilfillan now resides at his country seat near Redwood Falls, Minnesota. He was born in Oneida county, New York, July 4, 1831, a son of James and Janet Gilfillan, who were born in the historic town of Bannockburn, Scotland, where the Gilfillans have lived for some centuries. The parents came to the United States in 1830, on a vessel loaded with Scotch families, and settled in Oneida county, New York, where they spent their remaining days, the father following agricultural pursuits. He was a cousin of the celebrated Scotch-Presbyterian minister, Rev. George Gilfillan, whose fame was limited only by the boundary lines of knowledge of the great men of his day.
Charles D. Gilfillan was one of a family of four children, three of whom are now living. He spent his early life in a manner similar to that of the average boy who is reared in rural districts, save that he perhaps had better educational facilities. After attending the academy in his native town, at a time when he was seventeen years of age, he entered Hamilton College, where he remained two years. Almost a half century later, in 1893, this college made him one of its honorary members and conferred upon him the degree of M. A.
In the fall of 1850 Mr. Gilfillan went to Missouri and taught school in Washington county. It was really his first independent effort in life, the first step on the road which has brought him honor and fame. In 1851 he went to Stillwater, Minnesota, where, in addition to teaching school, he studied law for two years, and was then admitted to the bar. He began practice in Stillwater, where he remained until the fall of 1854, when he went to the then new village of St. Paul and commenced to practice law, forming three years afterward a law partnership with his brother, James Gilfillan. Becoming interested in the political issues and questions of the day which then had such marked effect upon the welfare of the country, he identified himself with the Republican party, and was one of the young men who aided in its organization in that section of the state and labored so zealously for its interests. The law partnership with his brother was continued until 1861, after which our subject practiced alone until 1866. About that time he put in the great water-works in St. Paul, with which his name will be linked as long as the city stands, He also became interested in building and real-estate dealings, and erected the Gilfillan block, which at the time of its completion was the handsomest office building west of Chicago. His business interests have been extensive in scope and have been of that character which add to the general prosperity while advancing his individual welfare. He has the strictest regard for all that is honorable and straightforward in dealing, and thus gained the confidence of the many with whom he was brought in contact. He is now the oldest bank officer living in the northwest, being at the time of this writing (1896) vice-president of the First National Bank of St. Paul and connected with other banking institutions and financial concerns in various parts of the state. He is also an officer in the St. Paul Trust Company, and aided in organizing that important corporation. He is now practically retired from business interests, though he still manages to a degree his magnificent farm of ten thousand acres, which he calls a pork and cattle factory. for on an extensive scale he buys and fattens stock, which he ships to Chicago, where it brings the highest market price. He has private stockyards, barns and every convenience which will accelerate his business interests, and ships several train-loads of stock each year. This is probably the largest farm owned and cultivated by one man in any strictly farming community in the state of Minnesota.
Mr. Gilfillan was married December 28, 1859, to Miss Emma C. Waage, daughter of Rev. Frederick and Jemima Waage. Her father was a German clergyman of considerable note and prominence. Mrs. Gilfillan died in Philadelphia, September 25, 1865, at the age of thirty years. By that marriage there was one child, who died in infancy. Our subject afterward married Fannie Waage, a sister of his first wife, and they have four children: Emma K.; Frederick J., who is now a student in a university of Berlin; Fannie W. and Charles O. Mr. Gilfillan has provided his children with the most excellent educational advantages that wealth can procure, and they have studied in the best schools of this country and in Europe. He believes strongly in the sovereignty of mind. and by advanced mental training has prepared his children for the duties and responsibilities that life may bring to them.
Early in life Mr. Gilfillan was a Whig, and cast his first vote for the Whig ticket; but on the organization of the Republican party joined its ranks and has since been one of its stalwart advocates. In the fall of 1864 he was elected to the state legislature, serving one year, and in 1875 was reelected, while in 1876 he was sent to the state senate, where he served continuously for ten years. He was active and instrumental in procuring the passage of some of Minnesota 's most wholesome and just laws found on the statute books of the state.
He was chairman of the committee on railroads, and was for ten years on the judiciary committee. He was the first chairman of the territorial Republican committee in 1855. and in the year 1865 made the canvass of the state for governor. The character of Mr. Gilfillan is shown by the fact that on one occasion he left a sick-bed and was assisted to the floor of the senate in order to secure legislation for a friend who needed help. Mr. Gilfillan drafted the bill and worked for it until it was passed. This fact coming into public notice won him the respect of all, a respect which he has forfeited in not the slightest degree.
He is president of the Minnesota State Historical Society, and while abroad with his family on various trips he has purchased many rare and valuable old volumes, which he has presented to the society. He is a man of ripe scholarship, of broad general information, and a deep student who has carried his researches far and wide into the fields of knowledge. His home is noted for its hospitality, where rich and poor alike receive a hearty welcome, and throughout the state he is held in the highest esteem.
Source: Memorial Record of SW Minnesota, Published 1897 - Submitted by Gary Boomgaarden
JULIUS A. SCHMAHL
Julius A. Schmahl is a Minnesota product having been born in Traverse des Sioux, Nicollet county, in 1867. In 1870 he moved with his parents to Redwood Falls and while there secured a common school education. While in school he spent his spare time herding cattle and working on farms until he was fourteen years old. At the age of fourteen he went to work as an apprentice in the plant of the Redwood Falls Gazette. After working there three years, he went to Fargo and worked for two years in the shop of the Argus job printing plant. From Fargo he went to St. Paul and Minneapolis where he worked as a reporter for eight or nine years. Returning to Redwood Falls Mr. Schmahl bought into the Redwood Falls Gazette and formed a partnership with James Aiken. He was chief clerk of the house in 1901, at the extra session of 1902, and the 1903 and 1905 sessions. He ran for secretary of state in 1906, was elected and re-elected in 1908 and 1910. Julius Schmahl is again before the people of the state as a candidate on the Republican ticket. He is opposed by Harvey W. Grimmer, Democrat, John A. Johnson. Socialist, C.L. Johnson, Prohibitionist, and M. S. Norelius Progressive.
Since he has been secretary of state, Mr. Schmahl has proved a faithful and efficient servant and has served no special interests. He is a man of energy, resourcefulness and common sense. He is not afraid of work, is always "on the job" and the work of his office is handled in such a way that those who deal with it have no complaints to make. If a man is efficient, why discharge him?
["The Bemidji Daily Pioneer".(Bemidji, Minn.), October 22, 1912 - KY - Sub by FoFG]
MICHAEL SCHOUWEILER
MICHAEL W. SCHOUWEILER (1912) is proprietor of the Klondike Saloon of Marshall. He is a native Minnesotan, having been born in Wabasha county February 25, 1863. Until he reached his majority he resided on his father's homestead in that county, and then he started out to make his own way in the world. Mr. Schouweiler has engaged in a great many occupations and has resided in many parts of the country. He farmed near Warren, Minnesota, one and one-half years, lived in Butte, Montana, five months, worked for a brother-in-law in Wabasha county one year, and then completed his education with a year's course in the Winona High School. He spent a short time in North St. Paul thereafter, lived in Lac qui Parle county one season, farmed in Wabasha county one year, conducted a saloon in North St. Paul two years, in Wabasha county two years, and then bought a farm in that county and operated it two years.
Plainview, Minnesota, was the next home of our subject. There he was the proprietor of a saloon one year and of a restaurant and pool hall four or five years. At Pollock, Campbell county, South Dakota, Mr. Schouweiler erected a building and engaged in the saloon business ten and one-half years. He operated a saloon at Sanborn, Minnesota, six months, and on January 22, 1912, he located in Marshall and purchased the Klondike Saloon. He has met with success during his short residence in the city and has built up a good trade. Mr. Schouweiler owns a farm in Campbell county, South Dakota.
The marriage of Mr. Schouweiler to Katie Losch occurred in New Richmond, Wisconsin, July 5, 1888. She is a native of Iowa. They have seven children: Lilly, the wife of Louis Traxinger, who tends bar for Mr. Schouweiler; Laura, Agnes, Olevia, Rosa, Jesse and Magdelin. Frank and Eva (Leonard) Schouweiler, the parents of our subject, were born in Germany, came to America in 1854, lived in Iowa a few months, and then took a homestead claim in Wabasha county, Minnesota. On that farm they lived the rest of their lives. They celebrated their golden wedding on June 6, 1904, and died a few years later. They had fourteen children, of whom the following named six sons and five daughters are living: John N., Michael W., Frank, Peter, Garrett, Andrew, Katie, Maggie, Jennie, Annie and Lizzie. ["History of Dakota Territory", George W. Kingsbury - Submitted by Karen Seeman]
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Yantz
HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE
Living within a distance of one mile of North Redwood, and in a humble hut that is surrounded on all sides by thick timber for a period of 27 years without having left the premises, is the unusual record of Mrs. Peter Yantz, a pioneer settler who is fully 80 years of age.
Mrs. Yantz has never seen an automobile, electric light, telephone, or has she ever seen a moving picture show or heard a phonograph. She lives in complete ignorance of all the wonderful developments that have taken place during the past half century, and is as innocent of what the world is doing as a new-born babe. She neither remembers the date of her birth nor that of her wedding, but in accordance with the information gleaned from neighboring farmers this remarkable woman is fully 80 years of age, and has been wedded for at least 60 years.
Mrs. Yantz came to Redwood Co. in the early seventies in an immigrant wagon with her husband, who served three years in the Twenty-Second Wisconsin Regt. during the Civil War. He was captured at Springhill , Tenn. , on March 4, 1863, and held as a prisoner by the Confederate forces for nearly three months. He nearly died from starvation and exposure. The old people live in perfect harmony in their hut that is surrounded by forest and thicket. Mr. Yantz spends all his time to fishing and maintains his home on the pension he receives from the United State government.
Both the old settlers have used tobacco for a great number of years and Mrs. Yantz especially thoroughly enjoys her well seasoned clay pipe. -- Redwood Falls Sun. [Thursday, June 13, 1912, Worthington Globe, Worthington, Mn. Submitted By: Gary Boomgaarden]
