WELLINGTON J. PHILLIPS, Red Wing, photographer, was born at Fort Madison, Iowa, July 7, 1872. His parents were John and Helen (Brown) Phillips, the former a native of Baltimore, Md., and the latter of England. John Phillips learned the business of photography at a time when that profession was comparatively in its infancy and the modern inventions and improvements along these lines were unknown. Later he moved to Burlington, Iowa, and became a conductor on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. An accident received in a wreck incapacitated him for this employment, and in 1876 he again took up photography, opening a studio in Lake City, Minn.  In 1880 his place of business was destroyed by the great fire which visited that city that year, and in 1883 he came to Red Wing, and continued in the business ten years. In 1891 he became conductor on the Duluth, Red Wing & Southern railroad, on the run from Red Wing to Rochester. In 1895 failing health overtook him and he was forced to retire. He is now police judge at Stanley, Wis. Wellington J. received his education, first in the Nazarene convent at Lake City, and after coming to Red Wing with the family also studied in the convent here, afterward finishing at high school. Choosing business instead of college, he studied photography and at once started in business for himself. He does excellent and artistic work and has a large trade. He has just completed on Third street a new building, in which he has one of the handsomest and most modern studios in the Northwest. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Episcopal church. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, and for six years served in the Minnesota National Guards, a member of Company G. Mr. Phillips Was married February 12, 1896, at Clinton, Mo., to Mary L. Brooke, of Bristol, Va., daughter of the Rev. Pendleton and Caroline (Bunting) Brooke, of Norfolk, Va. Her father died in March.  1898, and her mother resides at Seattle, Wash. To Mr. and Mrs.  Phillips have been born five children : Eleanor L., April 4, 1899; John B., March 4, 1901; Wellington L., December 24, 1902; Mary L., January 28, 1904, and Frank LeRoy, October 29, 1908.

ARTHUR P. PIERCE, the genial mayor of Red Wing, has occupied the mayoralty chair of the city for a longer period than any other man in its history. He is of New England parentage, born in Hudson, N. H., November 10, 1855, son of John Preble Pierce and Martha Ellen (Chase) Pierce. As a small boy he came to what was then the village of Red Wing and lived with his uncle, the banker, J. C. Pierce. He attended the schools of Red Wing and in 1875 graduated from the Shattuck School at Faribault. After a number of years as bank clerk in Zumbrota and also in the Bank of Pierce, Simmons & Co., of Red Wing, he started in the insurance business, which he has since continued, having an office on Main street. In 1893 he was first elected mayor and since that date has served continuously with the exception of the term 1899-01, when E. H. Blodgett served; and 1901-03, when John H. Rich served. He was commissioned first captain of Company G, First Minnesota National Guards, at the organization of the company and remained in that office until June 13, 1887, when he was promoted to major. Subsequently he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, resigning in 1894. Later he again entered the local company and served as captain from January 6, 1902, to July 7, 1905, when he retired from the service.  Mayor Pierce was the fourth president of the Commercial Club and in this capacity he has served several years. He has also been fleet captain of the yacht club for several years. In addition, to these two organizations, he belongs to the Elks. He married Jennie C. Cummings, of Windsor, Vt. This union has been blessed with four children, as follows : George, Kate, now Mrs. Fred Seebach; Marian, now traveling in Europe, and Raymond, who attends the public schools. Several years ago. Mr.  Pierce was elected secretary of the Red Wing Building Association, a position he still retains. The story of the growth and development of Red Wing under his administration, as well as the account of the beautifying of the Mississippi levee, which was his pet project, is told elsewhere in this history with the records of the municipal government of the city. 

DWIGHT CORDYON PIERCE, the genial postmaster and hustling newspaper editor of Goodhue village, is of Wisconsin birth, having first seen the light of day in Milwaukee, December 12, 1868, son of James M. and Harriet Maria (Carey) Pierce, natives of New York state. The father, who was a farmer near Milwaukee, Wis., came west in 1875 and located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he purchased 100 acres of land and engaged in general farming until 1880, when his wife died. He then entered the employ of the Iowa Central railroad, purchasing horses and supplies for construction work. After some years of this work he became purchasing agent for a railroad contractor of Salt Lake City, Utah. He now lives in retirement in Boise City, Idaho. Dwight C. received his education in Big Rapids, Mich., and attended the graded, the high and the business schools of that place. He then took up newspaper work, coming to this county first in 1885. After taking charge of the Zumbrota "Independent" two years he did similar work in St. Cloud, this state, and in 1896 established the Goodhue "Enterprise." This is a bright, newsy paper of 700 circulation, and its influence has ever been exerted in favor of everything that tends toward the civic, moral and industrial betterment of the village and county. Mr. Pierce's popularity grew, and on January 1, 1900, his appointment as postmaster met with general approval. Mr. Pierce is a Republican in politics and has taken an active interest in political affairs, having served as secretary for the Republican county committee on several occasions. Being a public spirited man, it is natural that his attention has been directed toward sanitary problems, making his services on the board of health most efficient and discreet. As a member of Company D of the state militia he proved a faithful soldier, and his presence is always gladly welcomed in the Masons, the Elks and the United Workmen.  Mr. Pierce was married October 3, 1889, to Florence Cram, of Zumbrota, daughter of James and Lucinda (Dickinson) Cram, whose father was originally a contractor and builder, but who later took up the furniture and undertaking business, in which latter he has remained nearly forty years. Mrs. Pierce is a woman of many accomplishments, and has been an able helpmeet of her husband in all his undertakings. The family faith is that of the Congregational church.

HERMAN PIRIUS, a prosperous, progressive and hard-working farmer of Minneola township, was born in Prussia, Germany, May 3, 1850, and came to America in the fall of 1869, locating in Minneola township, where he rented land and engaged in farming.  In 1875 he had prospered sufficiently to purchase 160 acres in section 12. This land he developed, erected a house and outbuildings, and improved in various ways. He carries on general farming, and is said to have one of the finest quarter-section farms in the county. Mr. Pirius came to America as a poor boy, and has never had financial assistance, acquiring all he possesses by his own hard work. Although he had but little chances for acquiring an education himself, he is a thorough believer in the public school system, and has ably served district No. 94 as treasurer for many years. In addition to his farm property he is a stockholder in the Farmers' elevator, of Zumbrota. By his wife, Mary Theada, whom he married in April, 1873, Mr. Pirius has seven children-Tillie, Mary, Martha and Alvina, who are married, and Theresa, Clara and Herman, who are single. The family worships at the Lutheran Church.

H. B. POWERS, now deceased, the first white settler of Pine Island, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 31, 1836, and went to Pennsylvania in 1852, settling in Wisconsin a short time later.  In October, 1854, he came to this county and preempted 160 acres on section 31, built a cabin and lived two years, later moving on to section 30. He operated the first mill in Pine Island for Haggard and Howard, the firm later becoming Leroy and Powers. In 1858 the business was sold to J. A. Tarbox.  In 1864 he moved to Roscoe township and there remained until August 1879, when he came to Zumbrota and engaged in the meat business with Jacob Closner, under the firm name of Powers and Closner. After several years Mr. Closner retired and Mr. Powers continued the business with his son, George B., until 1894, when he retired. In 1901 he moved to Mora, Kanabec county, and purchased eighty acres of land, where he lived until his death, March 31, 1905. His wife is still living in Mora with a daughter, Mrs. Charles C. Rogers. Mr. Powers was married in 1856 to Mary E. Miller, born in Pennsylvania, February 28, 1838. To this union were born seven children-Flora Ann, born May 25, 1857, is now the wife of Charles C. Rogers, of Mora, Minn. She has the distinction of being the first white person born within the township limits of Pine Island. George B., born in May, 1859, is in Mora, Minn; James Clark, born July 6, 1861, is a grain merchant of Halloek, Minn. ; Alice M., born July 29, 1868, is the wife of Charles E. Kolbe, of Mason City, Iowa ; Frank E., born December 16, 1872, works on the "Soo" line; Mark H. is assistant cashier of the First State Bank, of Zumbrota; William R. is dead.

MARK H. POWERS, of Zumbrota village, was born in Roscoe township, this county, February 4, 1876, and attended the schools of his neighborhood, afterward taking a course in the Zumbrota High School. His first regular employment was as assistant to Dr. P. A. Bereman, of Zumbrota. Subsequently he worked three years as mechanic in the Adams Iron Mine, of Eveleth, Minn., and then entered the shipping department of the Greggs, Cooper & Company, of St. Paul. In June, 1905, he returned to Zumbrota and accepted a position as assistant cashier of the Security State Bank, in which capacity he remained two years. A similar office was then offered him in the First State Bank, where he has since remained, winning friends among all those with whom he comes in contact. Mr. Powers was married September 22, 1903, at Zumbrota, to Mayme McWaters, daughter of James and Esther McWaters, of this place. One child lias blessed this union-Kathleen G., born July 10, 1904. Mr. Powers is a Republican in politics and is iioav serving his second term as village recorder. His popularity is shown by the fact that he is captain of Company D, Third Infantry, Minnesota National Guard. As a charter member of the Zumbrota Lodge, No. 178, Knights of Pythias, he has always been prominent in its councils and as a Mason he is highly esteemd. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ALBERT W. PRATT was born in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, July 10, 1837, son of Richard and Sarah (Fitch) Pratt, who located in that place in 1835. The father was a native of Massachusetts and the mother of New York state. At Chagrin Falls, Richard Pratt engaged for many years in the boot and shoe business.  For a time he lived in Keokuk, Iowa, but later returned to Chagrin Falls, where he died in 1868. His wife died at Hamilton, III, in 1872. Albert W. received his early education in the schools of his native town, and for several years was employed in the post office at Painsville, Ohio. He came to Red Wing in 1856 and was commissioned by Judges H. and E. T. Wilder to sell land warrants, and loan money to new settlers, who took advantage of the pre-emption law. In this capacity he continued until 1857, when the land office was removed to Henderson, Minn., Mr. Pratt going with the office and following the same business until the Indian outbreak of 1862, at which time he was appointed a member of the board of state auditors, to adjust claims made by the whites for property impressed by the state to enable them to fight the Indians. Locating again in Red Wing in 1863, he entered the office of Judge Wilder, at the same time working in the bank of Pascal Smith as clerk. In 1865, when the banking business of Mr. Smith was disposed of to the First National Bank, Mr. Pratt became connected with the latter institution, serving as bookkeeper until 1868. In 1868 with J. C. Pierce and T. K.  Simmons, he organized the bank of Pierce,- Simmons & Co.; Josia C. Pierce was the first president, and Mr. Pratt the cashier.  Upon the death of Mr. Pierce, Mr. Pratt succeeded him as president, occupying that position until January, 1908, when he resigned and retired. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Pratt opened, what he called "The Old Book Store," on Bush street, which he later sold to Arthur D. Danielson, the present proprietor. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Pratt has always been interested in public affairs, and for many years he served as treasurer of the city. He is a member of the Episcopal church and belongs to the Elks. The subject of this sketch was married at Painsville, Ohio, November 8, 1860, to Agnes V. Russell, of that place. Four children have blessed the union. Tracy W.  is general manager of the large cotton and oil works at Huntsville, Ala. Henrietta S. is the wife of Ralph Taber, a literary man of some note. Russell A. is manager of a bottling establishment at Sheffield, Ala., and Arthur P. is in charge of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in New York City. Mrs. Pratt died in Red Wing in 1897.

ROBERT W. PUTNAM, son of W. H. Putnam, is one of the younger men of this city whose name is already becoming associated with movements which tend toward the civic improvement of Red Wing. He is a native born son of the city, having first seen the light of day September 26, 1880. As a boy he attended first the graded and then the high schools, and in 1898-99 worked a year in the bank of Pierce, Simmons & Co., later graduating from the state university in 1903. His first business venture away from home was as a clerk in the Swedish American bank, of Minneapolis, one year, after which he entered the bank of Pierce, Simmons & Co., of Red Wing, as assistant cashier, becoming cashier in January, 1908. Mr. Putnam is a college fraternity man, a member of the city board of public works and also of the Commercial Club. He has been much interested in the Y. M. C. A. movement.