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Minneapolis Journal 1897

ALLEN FRANK FERRIS president of the First National Bank of Brainerd, Minnesota, is a native of New York. His father, William Ferris, was born in Otto, New York, August 1, 1827, and secured work in a store at Gowanda, New York, when only fifteen years old. While living at Gowanda he was married to Miss Buelah A. Allen, a native of that place, and daughter of Judge Daniel Allen, of the district court. Judge Allen was a prominent man in his state, and was once nominated for the governorship, but declined to run. He was a native of Massachusetts and his wife was Esther Manley, daughter of Capt. John Manley, of Connecticut. William Ferris was for fifteen years agent of the Erie railroad at Perrysburg, New York, and it was at that place that his son Allen was born on July 22, 1865. In 1872 Mr. Ferris moved to Minnesota and established himself at Brainerd as agent of the Northern Pacific railroad and of the United States Express Company. In 1881 he organized the First National Bank of Brainerd and was president of the bank at the time of his death in 1882.

Young Allen was only seven years old when his parents removed to Minnesota. He attended the common schools at Brainerd and took two years at Carleton College at Northfield. In 1885, when twenty years of age, he entered the First National Bank as teller and during the following year was elected cashier. In 1892 he was made president and still occupies that position. Mr. Ferris has taken a prominent part in the public affairs of his city. He was elected an alderman in 1891 and was made vice president of the city council. In 1892 and 1893 he was re-elected. In 1894 he was elected as a member of the lower house of the state legislature. He took a very active part in the legislation of the ensuing legislative term, and as chairman of the railroad committee of the house of representatives was influential in shaping important legislation. He was the author of the important seed bill which formulated a plan for aiding the farmers who lost everything by the forest fires of 1894 and needed seeds for sowing in the spring of 1895 in order that they might get a fresh start.

The work of Mr. Ferris in the house was rewarded by a re-election in 1896. Governor Merriam appointed Mr. Ferris to the Game and Fish Commission in 1891. and for five years he was secretary of that body. Mr. Ferris is president of the Chenquatana Club of Brainerd, vice-president of the Board of Trade, captain of the Brainerd Division, No. 7, U. R. K. P., a member of the Masonic body, of the Knights of Pythias and of the Improved Order of Red Men. On June 8, 1888, he was married to Miss Annie M. Stegee. They have one child. Frank W. Ferris, who is now six years old.

WILLIAM A. FLEMING is a lawyer and lives at Brainerd, Minnesota. His father, Patrick Fleming, was a prosperous country merchant all his life. He came from Scotland with his parents in 1819. When a young man he settled in Franklin County, New York, where he died at the age of sixty-three. He married Miss Rachel Shaw, a member of an old New England family.

W. A. Fleming was born December 28, 1848, at Dickinson Center, Franklin County, New York. His boyhood was spent at home attending the village school. He attended Lawrenceville Academy several terms. He began teaching when only seventeen, and taught school ten years, most of the time at home. By economy he had saved, when he became of age three hundred dollars, and was then taken into partnership by his father. For a while he served as postmaster at his village, being appointed to this position by President Grant. But having no taste for mercantile life, he determined to become a lawyer, and in 1878 he graduated from the Albany Law School.

Seeing better opportunities for a young lawyer in the west than existed in his native state, he came to Minnesota in 1882 and established himself at Brainerd. During his fourteen years' residence in that city he has built up a large practice and has been elected to a number of positions of trust. His early experience in school teaching was recognized by his choice as Superintendent of Schools of Crow Wing County. This position he held five years. He was municipal judge of Brainerd four years, and later was city attorney and county attorney. In 1889 and again 1893, he was elected to the State Legislature from Crow Wing County. In the legislature he took an active part in furthering the best measures before the House of Representatives. He has always been a Republican and is a firm believer in the principles of protection, sound finance and reciprocity. Mr. Fleming is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias and of the Red Men.

He has no church connections, though he is believer in the essentials of the Christian religion. In 1888 he was married to Miss Florence O. Foster, a daughter of Judge George B. Foster, of Peoria, Illinois. At that time Mrs. Fleming was a teacher in the high school at Brainerd. They have one daughter named Geraldine.

JOHN TAYLOR FRATER, in one community at least in this state can it be said that the faithful performance of public duty is appreciated and rewarded. John Taylor Frater, of Brainerd, is serving his fourth term as county treasurer of Crow Wing County. Mr. Frater is of Scotch descent on both sides of the family line. His grandfather, George Frater, was born in Roxburghshire Scotland, and came to America in 1818, locating in Wood County, Virginia. Subsequently he removed to Harrison County, Ohio. His business was that of farming and stock raising. He was an ardent anti-slavery advocate, and active in what was known as the underground railroad service. No fugitive slave ever applied at his "station" without receiving shelter and assistance to the next place of safety.

John Taylor, grandfather of the subject of this sketch on the other side of the family line, was also a native of Roxburghshire, Scotland, and came to America in 1819, settling in Livingston County, New York, but subsequently removed to Wood County, Virginia. Mr. Frater holds the good name of his ancestors in high respect, and takes just pride in their sturdy character and homely virtues.

John Taylor Frater was born April 19, 1848, on a farm near Uniontown, Belmont County, Ohio. His early educational advantages were very meagre, consisting of a country school, and much of the time only three months in the year. The year 1869 he spent in the preparatory course in the Ohio Central College at Iberia, Ohio, but left there just when he got fairly started because of lack of means. Subsequently he took a course in bookkeeping in Duffs Commercial College at Pittsburgh. He first taught school in the winter of 1870 and 1871. by which he earned the first money he ever possessed as a result of his own efforts, and he this means accumulated about $400, which he spent on his education. In 1875 he went into a grocery business in Iberia, and continued it with moderate success for about five years.

In 1881 Mr. Frater came to Minnesota, arriving in December, and locating at Brainerd, where he has been a resident since that time. He came West believing that there was better opportunity for young men here than in his native state. His first business connections were with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company as clerk for the chief road master, and he was employed by the company until November 1, 1883, at which time the force of employees was greatly reduced. He then secured a situation as a bookkeeper and held it for five years, until June 1, 1889, when he was elected to the office of county treasurer, which position he has held continuously, having been elected four times, the last three elections without opposition.

It is needless to say that Mr. Frater is a Republican, and is an active worker for his party's success. He has been honored by his fellow Republicans with numerous elections to important local and state conventions. Mr. Frater is president of the Republican League Club, has recently been elected chairman of the Republican county committee, is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. He is not a member, but is an attendant and supporter of the Congregational church. Mr. Frater was married October 14, 1874, to Miss Julia A. V. Meyers, of Iberia. Ohio.

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