Fifty Years In The Northwest by William H. C. Folsom
1828. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, tracing their lineage
1082 words | Chapter 152
to the Pilgrim Fathers. At the age of fourteen years he was clerk in a
store, but at the wish of his parents, left the store and attended
school, finishing his studies by a course at the high school. Soon
after he again assumed the position of clerk, in which he continued
two years, when, in 1855, he took charge of his father's hotel. Two
years subsequently he came to Stillwater, beginning work as a
compositor for the Stillwater _Messenger_, A. J. Van Voorhes,
proprietor. During the absence of the proprietor Mr. Easton was
manager. Finally, in 1863, he and A. B. Stickney rented the paper,
which they operated one year, then carried it on alone until 1865.
During this time Mr. Van Voorhes had been filling the position of
quartermaster, and on his return made Mr. Easton foreman, where he
continued until 1868. The St. Paul _Dispatch_ had just been
established, and he was connected with the interests of this paper
until his return to Stillwater in 1869. Aug. 6, 1870, he issued the
first number of the Stillwater _Gazette_. His son William E. was taken
as a partner in 1876. Mr. Easton and son have through their ability
and industry made the _Gazette_ a readable, reliable and popular
paper. Mr. Easton was married to Julia Burke, Oct. 14, 1849. They have
four sons and three daughters.
EDWIN A. FOLSOM was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, June 30, 1833. He
spent most of his youth with his parents in Bangor, Maine, where he
was educated in the common schools. In 1856 he came to Stillwater and
for six years was book-keeper for Hersey, Staples & Co. In 1862 he
enlisted in Company C, Eighth Minnesota Volunteers, and was
commissioned as captain. He left the service at the close of the war
with the rank of brevet colonel. Returning to Stillwater, he served
six years as county treasurer, and has since been engaged in lumbering
and selling goods under the firm name of Bronson & Folsom. He was
married Oct. 12, 1872, to Frances E. Staples.
JOHN B. H. MITCHELL.--The ancestors of Mr. Mitchell were Revolutionary
patriots, originally Scotch covenanters, who settled in North
Carolina, but who in after years freed their slaves and came to the
Northern States. Mr. Mitchell was born Nov. 26, 1820, in Monroe
county, Kentucky. His education was obtained chiefly in the printing
office of H. H. Houghton, of Galena, Illinois. He came to St. Paul in
1852, and was employed two years in the _Pioneer_ printing office. In
1854, in company with T. M. Newson and others, he published the St.
Paul _Daily Times_. In 1855 he located on a farm near South
Stillwater. During the early part of the Civil War he was in
Nashville, Tennessee, and reported proceedings of secession
conventions to northern papers. In 1863 he was elected a member of the
Minnesota legislature. Mr. Mitchell has filled other offices of trust.
He was married in 1850 to Mariana B. Fiske, a daughter of David Fiske,
of Baytown.
JOSEPH SCHUPP was born in Baden, Germany, in 1831; received a college
and general business education and came to America in 1852, locating
first at Buffalo, New York, and thence at Toledo, Ohio, whence he
removed to Stillwater in 1858, and engaged in the mercantile business.
Commencing moderately, he extended his operations and now owns several
buildings and blocks, and conducts a heavy wholesale trade. He was
married in 1855 to Mary Fuller, of Toledo, Ohio. They have three sons
living, Joseph A., Thomas O. A. and Frank.
CLIFFORD A. BENNETT was born in Portage county, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1841. He
received a common school and collegiate education. He attended Hiram
College during the time that President James A. Garfield presided over
it. April 24, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third Ohio
Volunteers. He was subsequently promoted to the staff of Gen. W. D.
Hazen and served until mustered out at the close of the war. He came
to Illinois in 1865, read law and was admitted to practice in 1867;
came to Stillwater in 1868, and for ten years was in the office of the
surveyor general. In 1878 he was elected clerk of court.
SAMUEL MATHEWS was born in New Brunswick, July 7, 1832. His
opportunities for schooling were limited, and he is practically self
educated. He came to Stillwater in October, 1856, since which time he
has been engaged in lumbering, dealing in pine lands and in the
mercantile business. He is a member of the firm of Mathews & Jourdain,
and has been quite successful in his business undertakings. Mr.
Mathews has been called upon to fill many positions of trust. He has
served over twenty-five years as manager, receiving and disbursing
agent of the Stillwater fire department. He served four years as mayor
of Stillwater, was county commissioner for twelve years, and for many
years director in the First National Bank of Stillwater. He was
married to Elisabeth Foley in 1867. Their children are Samuel, Thomas,
James, Mollie, Adie, Stella, and May.
JOHN AND JAMES MATHEWS, brothers of Samuel, came to Stillwater in
1856, and are active, enterprising business men and good citizens.
Their business is farming and lumbering.
PETER JOURDAIN is a native of Canada. He came to Stillwater about the
year 1856, and successfully engaged in lumbering. He is a member of
the firm of Mathews & Jourdain, a firm engaged in dealing in logs and
in manufacturing them into lumber. Mr. Jourdain has a family.
JAMES ROONEY was born in New Richmond, Canada East, in 1829. He
remained in Canada until 1850, when he removed to Maine, coming thence
to Stillwater in 1854. He engaged in lumbering, working at first by
the month, and gradually acquiring means and influence for independent
work. He is well situated, has a happy home and prosperous business.
He was married to Elisabeth McGuire, of Stillwater, in 1863. They have
five children.
JAMES N. CASTLE is a native of Sheffield, Sheffield county, province
of Quebec. He received a common school education; read law four years
and was admitted to practice. He came to Minnesota in 1862, and taught
school part of the time at Afton until 1865, when he was elected
county attorney of Washington county. Mr. Castle served as state
senator in the eleventh, twelfth, twenty-first, twenty-second,
twenty-third and twenty-fourth legislatures of Minnesota. He settled
in Stillwater in 1866.
ABRAHAM L. GALLESPIE was born at Shiloh, Randolph county, Illinois, in
Reading Tips
Use arrow keys to navigate
Press 'N' for next chapter
Press 'P' for previous chapter