hotel for the accommodation of the railroad employees. It is 26x80 feet, and three stories high, with a wing 26x40 feet, and contains seventy sleeping rooms.

ALLEN MORRISON, deceased, was one of Minnesota's earliest pioneers. He was one of a family of twelve, seven boys and five girls. His father was born in Scotland, but emigrated to Canada, where he died in 1812. Two of the boys were in the English navy, and killed at the battle of Trafalgar, in Egypt. William Morrison, a brother of Allen, and several years his senior, was among the early explorers of Northern Minnesota, having visited the territory as early as 1800, and was one of the party who discovered Lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi river. Allen's first visit to this region was in 1820, when he came to Fond du Lac, as a trader in what was then known as the "Northern Outfit." For several years he was associated with his brother William, in the Fonddu Lac department, during which time he was stationed at Sandy Lake, Leech Lake, Red Lake, Mille Lacs, and Crow Wing, and when the Indians were removed to White Earth, went there also, and remained until his death. He was married in 1826, to Miss Charlotte Chaboullier, who died at Crow Wing in the fall of 1872. She was a daughter of a member of the old Northwestern Fur Company, who was a trader on the Saskatchewan, and died in Canada in 1812. Mr. Morrison was the father of eleven children. Caroline now resides in Brainerd; she was born at Crow Wing, where her father was the first settler, on the 28th of April, 1846; and was married to Chris. Grandelmyer in April, 1864. She removed to Brainerd

in 1873, where she is now doing a prosperous business as Milliner and Dressmaker. Besides Mrs. G., there are five other members of the family in the State; Rachel, who resides with her sister, Mrs. Grandelmyer, at Brainerd; John J. and Allen, at White Earth; Mary, the eldest, now Mrs. J. R. Sloan, of St. Cloud; and Louisa, now Mrs. John Bromley, of Northern Pacific Junction. Until the spring immediately preceding his death, Mr. Morrison was in the enjoyment of his usual health and strength, but with the retreat of winter, his sons were pained to notice that steady, but unmistakable decline that presages final dissolution, and on the 28th of November, 1878, the battle of life was ended, and the old frontiersman was at rest. He was buried at White Earth, in the historic valley where he had passed so many

eventful years. His name, however, will not perish, nor his virtues be forgotten. In the first Territorial Legislature, he represented the district embracing the voting precincts of Sauk Rapids and Crow Wing, and when the present county of Morrison was set off, the Legislature named it in honor of this esteemed veteran pioneer.

JOHN MCNAUGHTON, foreman in the blacksmith shop of the Northern Pacific Railroad, at this point, was born in Genesee county, New York, in the year 1839. In 1848, he removed to Michigan with his parents, where he learned the blacksmith trade, and remained until 1866. He then went to Chicago, and two years later, to Duluth, where he was employed four years by the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad Company, and since then, has worked for his present employers.

HENRY MOHLE is a native of Germany, born in the year 1849. He came to America with the family in 1851, who settled in Chicago. At the age of fourteen years, he went to Leland, Illinois, and learned telegraphy with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, remaining there two years. He was then with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company two years and a half, after which he attended school one term, then returned to his old employers and remained until 1872. He then went to Hannibal, Missouri, and after eighteen months service with the Missouri, Kansas, & Texas Railroad Company, returned to the Chicago & Northwestern, and in 1878, came to Brainerd, in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. He is now Chief of the Train Dispatcher's department.

JOHN N. NEVERS is a native of New Brunswick, and came to Brainerd in 1872. Six months after his arrival he engaged in the lumber business, continuing it for four years. He then formed a partnership with B. F. Hartley and kept the Leland House for one year, since which time he has been in the mercantile business. He carries a stock of about $13,000, consisting of clothing and furnishing goods, and also carries on a merchant tailoring department.

EZRA NORTHFIELD was born in England in the year 1844. When he was five years old, the family came to America and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1863, the subject of this sketch came to Minnesota, and after a residence of ten years in Lake City, came to Burnhamsville, Todd county. He had a mail contract from the latter place to St. Joseph, Stearns county, but returned to Lake

City in 1874, and was engaged in farming for about two years. He again came to Burnhamsville, and has lived at that place and Brainerd ever since. While a resident of the former place, he was Postmaster and Town Clerk. He came

to Brainerd in the spring of 1881, with the intention of making this place his permanent home. JOHN O'NEILL dates his birth in Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 11th of July, 1827. He learned the trade of stone-cutter when young, followed the business for a number of years, and was afterward employed on the Ohio and Mississippi river boats. He came to Minnesota in 1872, and after living in Lake City, Mankato, and Red Wing, came to Brainerd in 1877, and has lived here ever since. He is the present proprietor of the saloon known as "The Last Turn," in front of which still stands the pine tree on which the two Indians were hung in 1872, for the murder of Miss McArthur.

PETER ORT was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in the year 1849. He came to Brainerd in 1870, and was employed at the carpenter trade for five years. Was then clerk in the "Headquarters Hotel" until January, 1880, when he opened a billiard hall on the corner of Fifth and Laurel streets, of which he is now the proprietor.

ALEXANDER ORR was born in New Brunswick, in the year 1850. He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner in his native country, which has been his occupation through life. In 1879, he came to Brainerd and engaged in contracting and building. In April, 1881, William E. Seelye became a partner, and they are now doing a profitable business, employing an average of ten men. W. A. PARSONS, M. D., is a native of Worthington, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and was born on the 31st of March, 1857. He prepared for college, and graduated at Harvard on the 30th of June, 1880. After a few months practice at Athol, Massachusetts, he came to Brainerd, arriving in March, 1881, and has since been in the active practice of his profession.

GEORGE R. PERLEY dates his birth in Michigan, on the 19th of March, 1848. When a child, the family came to Lake City, Minnesota, where the subject of this brief sketch was reared on a farm. In 1867, he went to Wyandotte City, Kansas, and learned the carriage maker's trade, residing there until 1873. Then came to Minnesota, and after living on a farm in Todd county for four years, came to Brainerd; was employed at

his trade until the spring of 1881, since which time he has conducted business on his own account.

REUBEN H. PAINE was born in Victory, Cayuga county, New York, on the 27th of November, 1846. At the age of eighteen years he went to McHenry county, Illinois, and after a residence of four years there, came to Lake City, Minnesota, and was farming there for two years. His next move was to Long Prairie, Todd county, where he conducted the grocery business until 1872, when he came to Brainerd, and after six years of active business, went to Little Falls and engaged in the mercantile business, but returned again to Brainerd after one year. He then formed a partnership with his brother, K. S. Paine, and J. C. Flynn, the firm being known as Paine Brothers & Flynn, wholesale and retail dealers in live stock and dressed meats.

JOHN C. ROSSER, M. D., was born at Lynchburg, Virginia, on the 2d of December, 1840. After taking the usual preparatory course he entered the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1867. Prior to his graduation he had served four years in the army during the civil war, in the Twenty-eighth Texas Volunteers, two years as hospital steward, and two years as assistant surgeon. Returning from college he settled in his native town, where he practiced his profession until coming to Brainerd in 1871, and still continues in active practice. He has held the office of Coroner since 1873, and is highly respected in the neighborhood.

GEORGE H. STRATTON is a native of Chester, Maine, born in the year 1835. When he was fifteen years old, he became engaged with his father in the hotel business, continuing until twenty-one years of age, when he became proprietor of the Five Island House, in the town of Winn, Penobscot county. In 1861, he enlisted in the Eleventh Maine Volunteer Infantry, as a private, but was soon after promoted to Second Lieutenant, but discharged on account of ill health, after one year's service. Returning to Maine he again engaged in the hotel business, in connection with lumbering, carrying on the same until 1865, when he entered the employ of Henry Poore & Son, who had an extensive tan-yard in the town of Winn. In 1874, he removed to Michigan, and was in the lumber business until 1879, when he came to Brainerd, and after conducting the lumber business about a year, formed a partnership with Charles L. Heath.

They are now the popular proprietors of the Leland House.

SYLVESTER V. R. SHERWOOD was born in Connecticut in the year 1822. He grew to manhood in New England, and in 1870, came to Minnesota, and was employed in the construction department of the Northern Pacific Railroad. He run the second regular train for that company, and acted as conductor until December, 1872. He then engaged in the drug business for a time, but subsequently changed to books and stationery, and smokers' supplies, in which line he still continues.

WILLIAM P. SPALDING is a native of Lowell, Massachusetts, and was born on the 1st of November, 1823. He was reared on a farm, and when twenty-seven years of age was employed as conductor on the Rutland & Washington Railroad, where he continued until 1861; when he enlisted in the Fifth Vermont Infantry, holding the offices of Lieutenant and Captain, and serving three years. In 1865, he went to Illinois and was farming for five years. He came to Minnesota in 1870, and went to work in the construction department of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and was the conductor of the first train over that road. This was a special from Duluth to Brainerd on the 11th of March, 1871; he also run the first regular train in September of the same year. He run the first regular train on their line from St. Paul, on the 1st of November, 1877, and was conductor until April, 1881. when the company were pleased to reward his faithful services by tendering him the appointment of claim agent.

GEORGE STEVENSON was born in Canada in the year 1853. When a boy he commenced working in a store, and on arriving at maturity, engaged in mercantile business on his own account. He came to Brainerd in the spring of 1881, and purchased the grocery and provision business of Mr. Hartley, which he still prosperously continues.

W. A. SMITH is a native of Franklin county, New York, where he was reared until eighteen years of age, when he went to Syracuse and at

tended school for some time. He was then em ployed as clerk in various mercantile houses until September, 1874, when he came to Brainerd and entered the employ of Mr. Bly, and became a partner the following spring. H. A. Campbell purchased the interest of Mr. Bly soon after, and the business was conducted by Smith & Campbell until March, 1880, when Mr. Campbell retired from the firm. Subsequently, Mr. Smith formed

a partnership with W. E. Campbell, under the firm name of H. A. Smith & Co. Their business is quite extensive, carrying a stock of $20,000, and employing four salesmen.

WILLIAM E. SEELYE dates his birth at St. George, New Brunswick, on the 22d of July, 1847. When a child, the family came to Minnesota, and after remaining in Minneapolis one year, went to Anoka. William resided with his parents until fifteen years of age, when he enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving three years. He returned to Anoka and learned the carpenter trade, which he followed in that vicinity until 1879, and removed to Gull River, where he carried on a door, sash, and blind factory until the spring of 1881. He then came to Brainerd and formed a partnership with Alexander Orr, the company doing a general business as contractors and builders.

DANIEL D. SMITH was born in Franklin county, New York in 1848. He went to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1869, and was engaged in the grocery business there for ten years. Then came to Brainerd and established a business in the same line, which he is now conducting.

DAVID E. SLIPP is a native of New Brunswick, and was reared on a farm in his native province. He came to Brainerd in 1871, and carried on a grocery business till June 1880, when he opened a hardware store, and is still in the business.

FRED J. SLIPP is also a native of New Brunswick, and is a brother of the subject of our last sketch. He came to Brainerd in 1879, and was engaged in the grocery business until the spring of 1881; but since then, has been with his brother in the hardware business.

FRANK B. THOMPSON dates his birth in Portland, Maine, in the year 1852. He came to Minnesota in 1869, and after a stay of six months in Duluth, engaged in the construction department of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and was afterward in the land department until the removal of that office to St. Paul, in 1880. Mr. Thompson has been a resident of Brainerd since 1873; six years of the time he was Register of Deeds of Crow Wing county, and since 1880, has held the office of County Auditor.

SETH C. TENNIS is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in the year 1826. At the age of seventeen years he was employed in a grocery store in Philadelphia, remaining there for eight years. He then came to Minnesota, and was agent

for the town-site company at Wabasha for some time, but subsequently engaged in farming, and in 1864, obtained the position of mail agent on the Mississippi river steamboats. In 1870, he went to Duluth, and was employed by the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad Company as book-keeper in the supply department of the Duluth division. He was afterwards employed as Station Agent at the Northern Pacific Junction, and in 1872, came to Brainerd and was bookkeeper in a mercantile establishment for one year; after which he carried on a farm until 1879, and has since been in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, as time-keeper. Mr. Tennis resides across the river in Cass county, at and during the period of that county's organization, was Register of Deeds and Treasurer.

LOUIS TACHE, telegraph operator at the shops of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, was born in Canada in 1857. He came to Minnesota in 1876, and after remaining a few months in St. Paul, went to the Northern Pacific Junction in the employ of the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad Company, and thence to Rush City, and in April, 1881, came to Brainerd and was installed in his present position.

EDWARD WHITE was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, on the 4th of April, 1812. He learned the carpenter trade in his native town, and at the age of twenty years, went to Worcester, Massachusetts, and engaged in building for four years. He then went to Tazwell county, Illinois, which was his home until 1860, when he came to Minnesota. He lived at Glencoe three years, and then went to Franconia, on the St. Croix river, where he was Postmaster five years. He came to Brainerd in July, 1870, and was in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company for several years. He is now carrying on the business of contractor and builder, his son Isaac being a partner.

GEN. LYMAN P. WHITE is appropriately denominated the "Father of Brainerd," by its inhabitants; while the Indians throughout this entire region call him the Big White Father." He is a man of a powerful frame, six feet high, broad shoulders, corpulent, and of a remarkably fine physique. Born in Whiting, Vermont, in 1811, and one of a family of eleven children. His father was a revolutionary soldier, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. Soon after peace was declared he became one of the earliest settlers of Vermont, after whom Whiting was named. Gen.

White's' early advantages were only equal to the majority of New England's sons of that day; bnt his natural ability, quick perception, and sound common sense placed him in the foremost ranks in business or political circles. He soon became a leader in his State. For several years he was a member of the State Legislature, and at various times declined important positions offered him by the United States Government, choosing rather a business than a political life. He has been married twice; first to Phebe Keeler, who had six children, now grown to manhood and womanhood; after her decease, to Jennie Knight, who came with him, the first white woman, to Brainerd. They have one daughter, Miss Jennie, who for two years was the only white child in the place, and until old enough to be sent east to boarding schools, was taught by her mother when a governess could not be obtained. Gen. White came to Chicago in 1859, entering largely into business there, and in the year 1870 came to Brainerd as the general agent of the Lake Superior and Puget Sound Company, with Thomas Canfield as president, which position he still retains. He laid out the townsites of Brainerd and the other places on the Northern Pacific Railroad, and is more closely identified with this locality than any other man. He has always been a friend to the poor, and especially adapted to the building up of this growing country; full of sympathy, ready to aid with a liberal hand, and wise in counsel to those who are seeking homes in the Northwest. He lives in the confidence and esteem of communities extending for hundreds of miles westward.

His beautiful and spacious residence in Brainerd was the first frame dwelling house in the place; the wing built at that time is now his office. The lumber was drawn by teams, a distance of seventy miles, about one year and six months prior to the completion of the railroad to this point. Their first Christmas dinner in this house was an eventful one. Distinguished guests were present, consisting mostly of the eastern capitalists interested in the construction of the railroad. At great trouble and expense, turkeys, chickens, oysters, and all delicacies that eastern markets afforded had been secured for the occasion. Mrs. White, the esteemed hostess, had spared no pains in preparing the menu in the most tempting manner. When ready, she left the dining room for a few moments, and returned escorting the guests, when to her amazement, found that during her absence, the Indians,

who had skulked about the premises, had improved this favorable opportunity, and cleared the table of its contents. It can be better imagined than described, the feelings of all interested, as they were waiting while another dinner was prepared consisting of bacon, hominy, and wild rice. General White has been very successful in the management of the Indians, never armed and never suffering annoyances from them, save their petty thieving. During the time he was Mayor of Brainerd, he had an ordinance passed, that all Indians found within the city limits after dark should be locked up within a building prepared for that purpose, and the people were freed from the night prowlings and hideous whoops that would have otherwise disturbed their slumbers. General and Mrs. White have done much toward moulding the christian sentiment of the place, he being a leader in the Episcopal church, and she entering into the work with

earnestness and almost single handed, until now a flourishing society and an imposing church edifice stands as a monument to their labors. Their house has ever been a home of hospitality, and from their larder has charity been generously dispensed.

EUGENE M. WESTFALL, ticket and freight agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad at this point, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 1st of December, 1848. When a child, his parents removed to Hannibal, where he was engaged with his father in the lumber business until twentyone years of age. He then entered the employ of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad Company, as clerk in the construction department. He came to Brainerd in July, 1874, and has been in the employ of this company ever since; first as clerk in the office of the master mechanic, and then in the superintendent's office, coming to his present position in June, 1881.

CHAPTER CLII.

DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY

SETTLEMENT ORGANIZATION -VILLAGE OF AITKIN-BIOGRAPHICAL. Aitkin is situated in the north central part of Minnesota, embracing an area of about two thousand square acres, only a small part of which is yet under cultivation.

The Mississippi river flows through the northwestern part, along which are rich bottom lands covering a belt of about two miles in width, in which is found a heavy growth of hard wood timber. Elsewhere the surface is gently rolling, the north half covered with a dense growth of pine, while in the south half is pine, bass wood, sugar maple, and other hard woods.

The soil is clay and black loam, with an abundance of excellent wild meadow. In the central part are ridges, on which are found poplar and white birch, while intervening are fine tamarack swamps.

Besides the Mississippi, the principal streams are, Willow, Tamarac, Rice, Moose, Hill, Pine, and

Snake rivers, the last two of which are in the southeastern part, the others in the central and northern part. Mille Lacs lake covers about one hundred and eight sections in the southwestern part, lying partly in this and partly in Mille Lacs county. Several smaller lakes are found south of the center, while north of the center is Sandy lake, one of the most historic localities in Northern Minnesota.

Although the present settlement of this county is of comparatively recent date, its first occupancy by white men ante-dates that of many of the most populous counties in the State. Sandy lake was visited by white men, and a trading post established there by the Northwest Company in 1794. Captain Zebulon Montgomery Pike, the first American officer who visited Minnesota in an official capacity, was at this lake in September, 1805. Governor Cass, and others were here in 1819, William Morrison being then in charge of the post. A school was opened here by Rev. Sherman Hall, in 1832, through the solicitation of Mr. Aitkin, for the benefit of the children of voy