Biographies

BIOGRAPHIES - W

REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER LIFE
IN POLK COUNTY
pages 69-73

Edmund M. Walsh will always be fairly distinguished for his prominent connection with the early history of Crookston and Polk County. He came here when but 20 years of age. His personal sketch, which appears elsewhere, shows that he was born in New York State in 1851, and when six years of age, was brought by his parents to Henderson, Sibley County, Minn., where he was reared to young manhood. In 1870 he took charge of his father’s general store at Henderson, but closed it the following year and set out for the Red River Valley, which became the future scene of his successful operations.
At the time Mr. Walsh left Henderson the old St. Paul & Pacific Railway Company was operating its line at that time from St. Paul to Willmar, and constructing the balance of the line to Breckenridge. A four-horse stage line was running from Willmar to Fort Garry [present day Winnipeg, Manitoba] and carrying passengers, express, and mail, and the freighting was done by Red River carts drawn by Indian ponies and oxen, one pony or ox being harness to each cart; sometimes there were as many as two hundred carts in a string. These vehicles were made entirely of wood, and often, when in motion, their squeaking could be heard for a long distance. A large amount of freight was also hauled by American freighters, using, mostly, oxen and wagons, and hauling from one ton to one and one-half tons to the wagon, and making on an average of twenty miles a day; but when the Northern Pacific Railway was completed and in operation to Moorhead, the Red River steamboats and barges supersede!
d and put out of business the ox carts and wagons as freighters.
Describing his pioneer experiences in the great Valley, Mr. Walsh writes:
I left St. Paul, the forepart of September, in the year 1871, and went as far as Willmar on the passenger train of the old St. Paul & Pacific, now the Great Northern. At Willmar I boarded the construction train and rode to the end of the track, then walked thirty miles to Breckenridge, which was then composed of one shanty as a stopping place. I expected to overtake an ox train going to Fort Garry (which train was owned by friends of mine), and continue my trip with them as far as Grand Forks, North Dakota, where my father was in the lumber and mercantile business; but unfortunately for me the ox train had left Breckenridge, the day before I had gotten there, and so there was nothing left for me to do but to start out on foot and alone and overtake my friends; but this I accomplished that same day, after they had struck camp for the night. The next day we passed through Moorhead. This was a very busy place at that time, as the Northern Pacific crossing had just been loc!
ated at that point, and every one was either building or seemed to be getting ready to build. There were also a number of tent stores and saloons; the only building of any importance was the Chapin House.
Georgetown was the next point of interest, being the Hudson’s Bay trading post, having stores and building of good construction. Here we crossed the Red River to the Dakota side and continued our slow journey north. When we got to within twenty miles of Grand Forks, we had stopped at a creek to water the oxen; then the stage came along, and also stopped to water the stage horses. I induced the stage driver to take me into Grand Forks, where we arrived after dark at the stage and hotel station, which was kept by John Stewart. I asked him if that was Grand Forks, and he said “Well, yes; part of it.” I then asked him where the rest of it was, and he told me around the corner of the building, and said “Do you see that light over there, about a mile?” I said “yes.” “Well,” said he, “that is the rest of Grand Forks. Good night.”
The next morning I discovered that Old Uncle John was about right, as in the town there were only the saw mill owned and operated by Griggs, Walsh & Co., their general store, their bunk and boarding house, and a small building occupied as a saloon by Romeo Whitney. There were also several other buildings under construction and which were completed that Fall, one being a residence for Capt. Alex. Griggs and a boarding house by Uncle John Fadden.
There not being much for me to do in Grand Forks, I boarded the stage November 1, 1871, and went to Fort Garry or Winnipeg where I found employment at my trade, as tinner, at good wages, and staying there until March 1, 1872, I then returned to Grand Forks. Winnipeg at that time had a population of about 1,000, mostly Scotch and French mixed bloods.
About that time there was considerable talk of a railroad being built through Northern Minnesota from Breckenridge to Pembina. From information that some of the leading men of Grand Forks had, it was said that the crossing of the Red Lake River by the railroad would be about ten or twelve miles east of Grand Forks, and that there would be a great city at that point some day; consequently there was much interest manifested by many in trying to strike the right point where the road would cross. Myself with Jake Eshelman (known as “Stripes”), Harry Farmer (‘the dude”), and Harry Sheppard (“Shepp”), were sent up the Red Lake River to settle on four claims (the land not being surveyed at that time, and to hold them for the town syndicate. We located our claims about two or three miles west of where Fisher is now located, and commenced to make improvements in the way of shanty building, etc.
Along about May 1, 1872, we were informed that the railroad had located the crossing at Crookston, so we then abandoned our claims and joined in the rush to the crossing, afterwards named Crookston, after the chief engineer of the railroad, Col. Wm. Crooks, of St. Paul. We were too late to secure any land on the town site, as it was all taken up or squatted on by parties following the railroad engineers. Bob Houston was one of the first, with W.H. Stewart, Leo Peigonote, E.C. Davies, joseph Barrett, B. Sampson, John Darkow, Dick Hussey close seconds. Soon a very lively little town was born, and it grew quite rapidly. Stewart started a saloon and hotel; Davis, who had a large grading contract, had supply stores , and other stores and saloons – principally saloons – grew up in a night. Among others of the first settlers who I call to mind are J.R. Barb, Charles Wentzel, Frank Jerome, P. Gervais, Paschal and Mrs. Lachapelle, Jake Meyers, Jim Turner, and He!
nry Sheppard. There were a great many men employed in railroad work, in steel and grading gangs, and business was very brisk, gamblers and others of that ilk reaping part of the prosperity. During the summer of 1872 Bruns & Finkle, of Moorhead, put up a large store, which was managed by Wm. Ross. E. Lariviere also put up a large store and had a large Indian trade, and about that time I put up a frame tar-paper shack and started a tin shop and hardware store on a small scale. There were also a few settlers that came in and settled on land near Crookston. James Greenhalgh, Sr., Christ Sathre, Peter Cornelius, David Wilkins, and Sam Honeywell, with their families, were among the first to settle.
Prosperity was in the air all during the summer and up to the middle of October in the year 1872, when word came from railroad headquarters to stop all work at once; consequently several hundred men were thrown out of work. As winter was coming on most of the men left and winter closed in on the few that remained. Fortunately the stores and others had large stocks of goods on hand. Money being plenty (apparently), everybody lived high, anticipating the resumption of railroad work in the early spring of 1873; but we were doomed to disappointment, and for four years it might be said we hung on by our eyelashes waiting for the operation of the railroad.
A part of this period is what we used to call “eat-fish-or-no-breakfast” times, and what the inhabitants didn’t know about cooking cat-fish was not worth knowing. We had them stewed, fried, baked, boiled, scalloped, and in bouillon. The winter months constituted the social season of the year, and were spent in dancing, surprise parties, theatrical entertainments with all local talent, and other social doings. During these years, were added to our numbers K.D. Chase, John McLean, W.G. Woodruff, D. Jacobus, E.H. Shaw, H.G. Palmer, Munroe Palmer, and their families. Mrs. Munroe Palmer was our first school mistress, and taught the few children in a small log cabin that was built by the railroad engineers.
The Indians were very numerous during the early years of settlement. Particulary in the summer time they would come in, in large numbers, and they usually camped where the High School buildings now are. They were peaceable enough and we had very little trouble with them, except when they got liquor from some of the traders, and this happened often enough to cause the U.S. Government to send U.S. Marshal Nichols here to investigate. He evidently found evidence enough to convince himself that there was good cause for complaints, for a short time after his third visit here he returned with a squad of soldiers from Fort Pembina and seized the entire stock of goods of E. Lariviere’s store and later sold the same at public auction. Mr. W.D. Bailey was the successful bidder, and he continued the business until he sold out to Fontain & Anglim in 1876.
The Red River steam boats ran up here part of the seasons of 1874 and 1875, landing at the foot of Third Street, and carrying freight to Winnipeg which had been hauled in here by the branch line of the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad. During 1875 the railroad was built into Fisher’s Landing, which was made the head of navigation until the railroad was built on to Grand Forks.
In 1877 and 1878 the heavy settlement of Polk County began. Pierre Bottineau and his son, John B., brought in a large number of French Canadians from Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, Minnesota, and also quite a number from the East, locating them along Red Lake River from Louisville to Red Lake Falls, and along Clearwater River from Red Lake Falls to Lambert. The Southern part of the State also furnished quite a number of settlers from Wabasha County and other points on the Mississippi River, and these newcomers settled around Crookston.
submitted Jan 17, 2003 Jon Raymond

submitted Jan 17, 2003 Jon Raymond

SOURCE: Compendium of History and Biography of Polk County, Minnesota, Major R.I.
Holcombe, Historical Editor; William H. Bingham, General Editor; W.H. Bingham
And Company, Minneapolis, Minn.; 1916; reprinted by Higginson Book Company;
Salem Massachusetts; (book no longer copyrighted)
Library of Congress control number 16009966
This book can be ordered from Borders Book Store or from Higginson.
Both companies have web sites. The cost is about $70
and well worth the price.

WELTER, Nick
pp 331-332

This wide-awake, enterprising and progressive Polk county farmer and live stock breeder, who owns and lives on the East half of Section 27, Fairfax township, eight miles southeast of Crookston and one mile and a half west of Harold station on the Northern Pacific railroad, came to his present condition of independence and comfort in a worldly way through many difficulties and discouragements but with a spirit of determination, industry and perseverance that triumphed over all obstacles. He is a cousin of Frederick Baatz, who lives two miles south of him on Section 4, Russia township, a brief account of whose life will be found on this work.
Mr. Welter was born in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, Germany, September 20, 1858, and came to the United States in 1888, joining an uncle in Wabasha county, Minnesota, with whom he remained a few months and then came to Argyle in Marshall county, where his uncle owned a large tract of land. For six years he lived on one of his uncle’s farms and during the next three on another belonging to him. He improved 200 acres of his uncle’s land, having some good years in Marshall county but losing his first three crops by frost. As he had only $150 in money when he came to this country the loss of his crops was a serious setback for him. But his uncle carried him along at a high rate of interest on loans and deferred payments, and in the end he won his way out of all embarrassments and through all difficulties.
While farming his uncle’s land Mr. Welter was in partnership with his own brother Frederick until 1894. On April 16 of that year he was married to Miss Susan Clemen, then a resident of Wabasha county, Minnesota, but born in Luxemburg, Germany, August 3, 1867, and brought to America in her infancy. Two years later, in 1896, Mr. Welter came to Polk county, and until, April, 1914, he rented land in Fairfax township, 320 acres of which he now owns, having paid $50 an acre for it in the spring of 1914. Four years before buying this land, however, which he had farmed for twelve years as a tenant, he bought 160 acres partially improved in another section, paying $25 an acre for it. He has since built a good barn at a cost of $1,000 and made other improvements of value.
Mr. Welter has one of the best farms in Fairfax township, and it is very productive. But what it is his industry, good judgment and skilful farming have made it. He raises wheat and other grain, and in 1915 his crops reached a total of about 4,000 bushels of wheat and the same amount of oats and barley. He also keeps 18 to 20 head of cattle and 10 horses and always has a few cows for milking purposes. His success in his farming operations in this county is very gratifying to him, especially as it is all the result of his own unaided efforts and good management.
Five children have blessed and brightened the Welter household, all of whom are still living at home with their parents. They are: Frederick Peter, aged twenty-one; Peter Aloysius, aged nineteen; Andrew Nicholas, aged seventeen; Theodore Johann, aged fifteen, and George William, aged five. The members of the family have all been reared in the Catholic faith and belong to the Cathedral parish in Crookston.

submitted Jan 17, 2003 Jon Raymond

SOURCE: Compendium of History and Biography of Polk County, Minnesota, Major R.I.
Holcombe, Historical Editor; William H. Bingham, General Editor; W.H. Bingham
And Company, Minneapolis, Minn.; 1916; reprinted by Higginson Book Company;
Salem Massachusetts; (book no longer copyrighted)
Library of Congress control number 16009966
This book can be ordered from Borders Book Store or from Higginson.
Both companies have web sites. The cost is about $70
and well worth the price.

WILDER, CHARLES W.
pages 300-301

Since March 15, 1899, Charles W. Wilder, of Crookston township, has been a resident of Polk county, and during nearly all of the time has been engaged in market gardening on a large scale and the leader in that industry in this part of Minnesota. He has also been carrying on general farming operations for a number of years on three different farms which he owns and has cultivated under his direct personal supervision and control. He was not the pioneer in the market gardening line but has been very successful in it, having the best years of the trade at his command during the activity of the big lumbering mill in Crookston, which is now dismantled. His success in the business has led to active competition, but he is still the leader in the particular line which he started in this locality.
Mr. Wilder was born and reared in the province of Ontario, Canada, and in 1883 went to Dickey county, North Dakota, and took up a pre-emption and a tree claim. He lived on these claims sixteen years and was engaged in raising grain. When he went to North Dakota he had no capital, and was one of the first settlers on the prairie in what is now Dickey county. The prairie was then covered with buffalo in that region, and the soil is strewn with their bones, for they were slaughtered with relentless extravagance.
On his arrival in this county, with $2,500 in cash as his capital, Mr. Wilder began operations as a market gardener on 34 acres of land. He raised vegetables and small fruits for sale and disposed of them at houses and stores in Crookston. He put up a hothouse of fair proportions to which he added others as his trade increased. From time to time he bought additional land, and he now owns and cultivates his home farm of 164 acres in Section 32, Crookston township, and another river farm of 160 acres and one of 40 acres on the prairie in Section 33, Fairfax township. For some of this land he paid $50 an acre, but he has made good use of it and rendered it far more valuable. He also erected all the buildings on his farms, expending in doing so upwards of $5,000.
In his truck gardening Mr. Wilder has about 40 acres devoted to raising potatoes and 15 in tomatoes and sweet corn, onions, cabbage, etc., regularly with other products in proportion. He employs several persons in carrying on his work and uses modern machinery of the most approved models. He also conducts a general farming industry principally devoted to raising grain, and has averaged 38 bushels of wheat to the acre on a tract of 15 acres, and reached averages almost as high on other tracts from year to year.
Mr. Wilder was married while living in Dickey county, North Dakota, to Miss Lillian Coddington, a native of the state of New York. They have four children: Florence Elizabeth, who was graduated from the Crookston high school and taught school in Polk county three years, one of them in the town of Beltrami, and is now the wife of J.D. Dewar, of Hammond township; Jessie H., who is also a graduate of the Crookston high school and was a Polk county teacher, and is now the wife of F.R. Hedley, of Fairfax township; Jay E., who is a graduate of the Agricultural College at Crookston, and Harvey A. Mrs. Wilder is a member of the Andover-Fairfax Social club and takes an active part in its proceedings and is zealous in promoting its welfare. Mr. Wilder has served as treasurer of the township board and also as a member of the school board while living in North Dakota. His home farm is located just one mile east of the center of Crookston and is one of the best in Crookston township.
submitted Jan 17, 2003 Jon Raymond

WILEY

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submitted Jan 17, 2003 Jon Raymond

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