Trails to the Past

Minnesota

Hennepin County

Biographies

 

 

 

 

Progressive Men Index

 

ARMSTRONG TAYLOR is a member of the Minneapolis bar, and a gentleman who honors the profession of which he is a member. He is a son of John Taylor and Sarah Dowler (Taylor), and grew up on a farm in northern Vermont, where his parents lived, in very moderate circumstances.  His ancestors were Scotch and English, who emigrated to the north of Ireland at the time of William of Orange. His family came to this country in 1839.

The subject of this sketch was born at Berkshire, Vermont, November 17, 1850.  While yet a young lad Armstrong Taylor valued the advantages of education, and determined to obtain such schooling as he could bring within his reach. He attended the district schools of the neighborhood and maintained himself by doing chores for his board. He has no college education, but good academic training. Continued his studies while working as a farmer in summer and teaching school in the winter. At the age of twenty-one he began the study of law at Richford, Vermont, with Hartson F. Woodard, and afterwards studied in the office of Davis & Adams, at St. Albans, Vermont, where he was admitted to the bar on June 28, 1875. Taylor immediately removed to Wisconsin and commenced the practice of his profession at Baldwin, St. Croix County. He continued in the practice of law there for twelve years, when he removed to Minneapolis, locating in this city March 27, 1887.  He has continued in the practice of law with eminent success before all the courts of this state. Mr.  Taylor has always been a Republican, and cast his first vote for Grant for “four years more” in 1872.  Was appointed by the governor of Wisconsin as county attorney of St. Croix County in 1883.  He refused the nomination to the same office at the next election, preferring general practice. He is a member of the Commercial Club of Minneapolis and several Masonic lodges. His church connections are with the Episcopal society. He was married in June, 1876, to Julia Noyes, of Richford, Vermont, but they have no children.  Mr. Taylor takes great pride in his profession and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his clients and friends.

GUSTAV THEDEN On the twelfth day of November, 1862 Gustav Theden was born at Nor Vermland, Sweden.  He was educated in the schools of his native country, and graduated from Karlstad College in 1880. Shortly after taking his degree he emigrated to the United States, settling in Chicago, where he became editor of Missions Vannin, a position which he held for eight years, when he came to Minneapolis, since his home.  Since his residence in Minneapolis, Mr. Theden has been editor of the Minneapolis Veckoblad, a religious and political newspaper in Swedish, having a circulation of about fourteen thousand.  He is now one of the proprietors of that paper.  He has a good understanding of military tactics, having had a cartful training along this line in the mother country. He is a member of the Swedish Mission Covenant Church, and is unmarried.

It was in the campaign of 1892 that Mr. Theden first made himself felt in politics.  He was engaged by the Republican State Central Committee to make a number of speeches in the Swedish tongue at various points over the state.  Having studied law with a marked degree of success, and having many of the arts and graces of the public speaker, he made a reputation in that campaign which two years later secured him the nomination as a candidate for the state senate from one of the Minneapolis districts. He was elected by a large majority, and his term of office will not expire until the first of January, 1899.  During his first term as member of the state senate he became known as the champion of measures designed to benefit labor, notably the lien law, which owes its present efficiency in this state in large part to his efforts. He was also backed legislation intended to give voice to the demand for additional safeguards to be thrown around the liquor traffic. His chief work as a temperance reformer is embodied in a bill nullifying an ordinance of the city of Minneapolis providing that only members of the police department should be qualified to swear out warrants for a violation of the Sunday closing law, so called.  At the opening of the present session of the legislature (in January, 1897), he became the champion of that large and growing class of citizens who believe that the modern department stores are against public policy. He moved the committee of investigation that was busy for a large part of the session sifting out the facts connected with that system and was made its chairman. Mr. Theden is a striking representative of the successful young man in politics, and his career so far has been an honorable one.  He enjoys the confidence of a rapidly widening circle of acquaintances and friends, and his future is very promising.

J. H. THOMPSON is one of the pioneer settlers of Minneapolis, having been engaged in business in that city for over forty years as a merchant tailor and dealer in gents’ furnishing goods. He was born in South Berwick, Maine, August 17, 1834, the son of Daniel G. Thompson and Dorca Allen Hayes (Thompson.) His father was a well-to-do farmer in the state of Maine. In September, 1843, the family removed from South Berwick to a farm in North Yarmouth, Maine, where the subject of this sketch worked on the farm and attended the country school until he was fifteen years of age.

He was then engaged as a clerk in George S. Farnsworth’s store at North Bridgton, Maine. A year later, in March, 1850, he commenced to learn the tailor’s trade with Nathaniel Osgood. He here attended the North Bridgton Academy in the winter of 1851.  In July, 1853, he removed to Augusta, Maine, and was employed as a clerk and cutter by Richard Bosworth. In March, 1853, he was employed in the same capacity by J. H. and F. W. Chisam, of the same city. In the winter of 1856 he came West, looking over several locations in order to find a suitable location to open business, finally deciding to try what was then St. Anthony. He started in the tailoring business in this town in the winter of 1856-57, being the first tailor in Minneapolis. He has continued in the same line of business ever since and has enjoyed a large and profitable trade. In connection with his tailoring business he had for years the first express office in Minneapolis, and also sold the first railroad tickets to the East via steamboats and by rail from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. 

In August, 1862, he was a volunteer in Captain Anson Northrup’s company for the relief of the threatened settlers at Fort Ridgely. He is a Republican in politics and takes an active part in party affairs. He served as supervisor of the town of Minneapolis for several years, and also as alderman. In the fall of 1856, when only twenty-one years of age, he took considerable interest in the election of John C. Fremont, Republican candidate for president. In September of the same year he was elected and took the three degrees in Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry, in Bethlehem Lodge, No. 35, jurisdiction of Maine. In November of the same year he was elected Senior Deacon of the lodge.  He has held several other offices in the Masonic fraternity, more especially that of the grand treasurers office consecutively for the past nineteen years. On September 18, 1860, he was married to Miss Ellen M. Gould, at Minneapolis, and has two children living.

CHARLES JOHN TRYON is a lawyer practicing his profession in Minneapolis. He is descended from old Colonial stock. His father, A. D.  Tryon, of Batavia, Genesee County, New York, was in active business as druggist and bookseller in that place for about thirty-five years, and in fairly comfortable circumstances for the greater part of that period. After closing out his business he made Western investments at Spokane Falls, which, however, have not proven very profitable. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Republican principles, being repeatedly chairman of county committees, but has never held any office. He was born in Montgomery County, New York, in 1824, and is still living. His wife, Amanda Hatch Shepard (Tryon) was born in the first log house built in her town in Genesee County, New York, removing to Batavia shortly after marriage. William Tryon, great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born and lived in early life in Connecticut, and was among the New England levies who took part in the campaign ending in Burgoyne’s surrender. His son, John Tryon, grandfather of Charles, served in the militia in the war of 1812. They and their ancestors were all farmers living in Connecticut, in the vicinity of Wethersfield, for many generations, being descended from William Tryon who came from England in 1640 and settled in Connecticut. The paternal grandmother of Charles was of pure French blood, of Huguenot stock, her family having settled in Connecticut during the Revolutionary period. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch on his mother’s side was a physician and farmer, being one of the first settlers in the western part of Genesee County, New York, having come overland with his wife from Vermont, where both were born.  They were connected with the Phelps and Graham families of that state.

Charles John Tryon was born at Batavia, Genesee County, New York, September 8, 1859. He was educated at the Batavia Union school, which was then as now under the control of the regents of the University of New York, and which was superior to the ordinary academy of today. He was compelled, however, to leave school at the age of fifteen to aid in support of the family, after the business collapse of 1873. He worked as a clerk in his father’s store for four years, when, having procured a clerkship in the first auditor’s office in the treasury department, he left for Washington in 1878. He held this position until April, 1886, when he came West and located at Minneapolis.  He had commenced the study of law before going to Washington, and continued its study while in that city. He received the degree of LL. B.  from the law school of the National University, and LL. B. at the Columbian Law School. On his arrival at Minneapolis he entered the law office of Kitchel, Cohen & Shaw. Shortly afterwards he was made examiner for the Minnesota Title Insurance and Trust Company, was soon made assistant counsel, and in October, 1892, was made counsel of the company. In the fall of 1895, retaining his position as counsel for the trust company, he opened offices for general law practice, giving special attention, however, to real estate, corporation and insurance law. Mr.  Tryon is also a director of and attorney for the Northern Standard Telephone Company. In politics Mr. Tryon has always been a supporter of the Republican party, but has held no political offices.

He is a member of the Minneapolis Commercial Club, and of the Plymouth Congregational church. June 10, 1891 he was married to Miss Isabel Gale, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.  Harlow A. Gale. Mr. and Mrs. Tryon have three children, Frederick Gale, Elizabeth Gale and Phillip Van Dorn.

CHARLES A. TULLER The patronymic of the family of which the subject of this sketch is a member was originally spelled Tullar. The spelling was changed by Artemidorous Tuller, grandfather of Charles, who thought it was easier to write “e” instead of “a.” In an old deed, signed by him in 1804, however, he spelled his name “Tullar,” and it is also noted that in an old contract, which was signed in 1820 by two members of the family this same difference of spelling occurs. Artemidorous Tuller, who was of old New England stock, was a mechanic by profession, and possessed considerable inventive genius. The first crooked ax helve turned out was made by him. His son, Hiram Whiting Tuller, father of Charles A., was born at Lower Sandusky, Ohio, in 1824. When he was but eight years of age the family moved to Jonesville, Michigan. He still resides there, the oldest pioneer living in that locality. In business life he has been quite active, and attained a comfortable affluence as a contractor and builder. During the Civil War he held a clerkship in the war department at Washington, under General Meigs, and also shouldered a musket at the time General Early attempted to take Washington. He has always taken a prominent place in the community in which he lives, and has occupied many township and village offices. He was also a clerk of the state senate in the session of 1865 and 1867.  Clara E. Nimocks, his wife, was a native of New York. She was born at Houseville, in Lewis County, November 1, 1827, of English descent. 

Their son Charles first saw life at Jonesville, Michigan, June 26, 1866. The lad’s education was received in the graded and. high schools of his native town. He graduated from the latter in his eighteenth year and at once engaged in active business life. The first dollar he earned was by acting as agent for the Detroit Evening News, carrying the papers every morning. He was at the same time also working in the post office of his native village, holding the position of assistant postmaster. In August, 1885, in response to a telegram from Charles A. Nimocks, then manager of The Minneapolis Journal, he came West to take a position as collector with that paper in Minneapolis. This position he held until January 1, 1889, at which time he was promoted to the position of bookkeeper, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of the lady who had filled that position. In March, 1890, he was promoted to the position of cashier of The Minneapolis Journal, and still later, in January 1895, to that of assistant manager. Industry, perseverance and model habits are the qualities which have enabled Mr. Tuller to rise to the responsible position he now fills. He is a conscientious and hard worker, and a shrewd and conservative manager of the responsibilities devolving upon him. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and is an attendant of the Episcopal church. He was married June 7, 1893 to Mary E. Thompson, of Minneapolis.

JAMES H. TUTTLE Rev. James H. Tuttle, D. D., was born at Salisbury, Herkimer County, New York, July 27, 1824. In his youth he attended for a while the academy at Fairfield, New York, and afterwards spent two years in Clinton Liberal Institute.  Plans were formed for attending Harvard University, but they were never carried out. All his life Dr. Tuttle has been a diligent and faithful student and a great traveler. Few men are better informed upon all subjects or can put their knowledge into more attractive form or employ it for more practical purposes. He was brought up in a Baptist family, but when quite young his religious views changed and he became a Universalist. Soon after this change took place he decided to enter the ministry. His first settlement was at Richfield Springs, New York when he was but twenty years of age. The next one at Fulton, Oswego County, in the same state, where, in 1848 he married Miss Harriet E. Merriman. Of this union two sons were born. The mother died in Dresden, Germany, where she had gone, hoping to recover health and strength. Her death occurred in 1873. In 1886 the elder son, James, passed away in his early manhood. He was a man of sterling worth, spotless integrity and great business ability—universally honored. The younger son, George H., is one of the most prominent of the younger surgeons in New York City. 

The subject of this sketch remained at Fulton until 1853, when he was called to Rochester, New York. The success of his ministry in the two smaller fields he had cultivated, made the larger church, in the more important place, feel sure that he who had been so “faithful over a few things,” was qualified for greater responsibilities. These hopes were not in vain. His ministry increased in excellence and power. In 1859 he removed to Chicago, taking the pastorate of the Second Universalist Church, which rapidly grew in numbers and influence under his ministry. In 1866 a few Universalist families in Minneapolis were worshipping in Harrison’s Hall, while their first meeting-house was being erected. Dr. Tuttle came up from Chicago to preach before the Universalist convention of the state. The trustees of the new society invited him to bring his family, spend the summer vacation at Minneapolis, and preach for them on Sunday. He came and the summer lengthened into a pastorate of a quarter of a century. “I have had five pastorates in all,” he says, “and my last three pastorates cover thirty eight years. No minister has been more fortunate in the gift of noble, generous parishes. Half a century! What changes have happened during this period! A majority of the world’s greatest inventions date within it. Compare our whole country, our Northwest especially, today with what they were fifty years ago. What revolutions, and what progress m religious thought have everywhere occurred in this space of time!” The Church of the Redeemer grew, under his pastorate, with the growth of the city, from a handful of worshippers to a large and powerful congregation.  In 1801, having completed his twenty-fifth year of service, he retired from active work, and his associate. Rev. Marion D, Shutter, was chosen pastor, The title of Pastor Emeritus for life was conferred upon Dr. Tuttle. The completion of his twenty-fifth year in the pastorate was pu1>lich’ celebrated—representatives of all denominations in the city taking part. Mr. Tuttle’s life is interwoven with the history of the city. No man stands higher than he in the estimation of the community. He has been prominent in all good works, identified with all charitable and humane enterprises, and always upon the side of rational reforms. His influence has extended far beyond this city, and in neighboring towns and states he has been widely sought fur the lecture platform as well as for the pulpit. He is known and loved by people of all religious beliefs and of no religious belief—by all who recognize the supremacy of character.

CHARLES EDWIN VANDERBERGH has had the distinguished honor of having served on the bench in the district court and the supreme court continuously for a period of thirty-four years. His ancestors came from Amsterdam, Holland, and settled in New York more than a generation before the French and Indian war. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution and removed soon after the war to Saratoga County, New York, where his father, Stephen Vanderburgh, was born in 1800.

Charles Edwin was born at Cliffton Park, Saratoga County, New York, December 2, 1829.  In 1837 the family located in Onondaga County, in the same state, where Charles Edwin worked on his father’s farm during the summer months and attended the district school during the winter until he was fifteen years old, when he prepared for college at Courtland College, Homer, New York. In 1849 he was admitted to the sophomore class at Yale College, and was graduated in the class of 1852. He then became principal of the academy at Oxford, New York, and in connection with his duties as principal took up the study of law.

He was admitted to the bar in 1855, and the next year removed to Minnesota, where in April he located at the then little village at the Falls of St. Anthony. His first employment was in the office of the register of deeds, where he worked about three weeks, earning about forty dollars in preparing the records of the county. He then formed a law partnership with F. R. E. Cornell, which became one of the leading law firms of the new state. In 1859 Mr. Vanderburgh was elected judge of the Fourth judicial district, and held that position for over twenty-two years. He discharged the duties of the office with singular ability and fidelity, a statement which is fully substantiated by his long retention on the bench. His careful legal training, his habits of patience and thorough investigation led him to sound conclusions, and his decisions were very seldom reversed. In 1881 there was a vacancy on the bench of the supreme court of the state, caused by the death of Judge Cornell, and Judge Vanderburgh was chosen to fill it. He served in that capacity with distinction and honor until the end of 1893. In 1860 while judge of the district court, he rendered a decision which brought him into national prominence.  A slave woman, Eliza Winston, then owned by Colonel Christmas, of Mississippi, brought to Minneapolis by her master on a visit, was taken before Judge Vanderburgh on a writ of habeas corpus. The judge declared “That slavery was a local institution, and that a slave brought into a free state by its owner became free.” He decided that the woman was free to choose whether to remain with her former owners or to leave them. She chose to do the latter, and aided by a party of abolitionists, and in spite of protests and an attempt to resort to force, was enabled to make her escape to Canada. 

In his political associations Judge Vanderburgh has always been a Republican, but, naturally and properly, by reason of his judicial position, has never been a strong partisan. He is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Minneapolis; was for many years superintendent of the Sabbath School, and is active in philanthropic and religious effort. He was married September 2, 1857, at Oxford, New York, to Julia M. Mygatt, daughter of William Mygatt. She died in 1863, leaving two children, William Henry and Julia M. In 1873 Judge Vanderburgh was married to Anna, daughter of John Culbert, of Fulton County, New York. Of this union was born one daughter, Isabella, who died in 1893, a young lady of great promise. Although Judge Vanderburgh has devoted forty busy years of his life to the discharge of public duties of great responsibility and honor, he is still, in 1896, although in his sixty-sixth year, a hale and strong man in the full possession of all his faculties and in the enjoyment of the high esteem and sincere respect of his fellow citizens, who honor him for the service he has rendered.

CHARLES WHITE VAN TUYL The name at the head of this sketch indicates at once that the subject of it is of Dutch descent. The Van Tuyls were originally natives of Holland, where the name was spelled van Tuyll, and the full family name there at present is van Tuyll van Serooskerken. The family is of Frisian origin, and Tuyll was the name of a small town in that province. The American branch descends from several brothers who came to America about 1720 and has been chiefly farmers. The ancestor of the subject of this sketch settled in the Mohawk Valley, New York, where his father, Ebenezer Van Tuyl, was born. Ebenezer has been engaged in railroad business for many years, his present official position being that of manager of the Western Car Service Association at Omaha. He was a soldier in the union army captain of Company G, First New York Infantry, and served in that capacity two years. His service included the Peninsular campaign and he was also at Fortress Monroe during the historic combat between the Monitor and Merrimac. He was wounded and taken prisoner at Chancellorsville, which closed his military career. On his mother’s side, Charles Van Tuyl’s ancestry is Scotch-Irish. They were early settlers in Central New York and engaged in farming.

The subject of this sketch was born December 17, 1859, in Addison, Steuben County, New York. He attended the public schools in Hornellsville, the country district school in Tioga County, and the graded and high schools in Binghamton, all in New York. The Binghamton schools were of high rank and were the most valuable educational facilities which he ever enjoyed. Mr. Van Tuyls first employment was in the service of the United States Express Company at Binghamton, in 1875.  He was afterwards clerk with the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railway at Binghamton, but in March, 1882, removed to Omaha, where in the following September he entered the service of the Union Pacific, and was employed in the freight auditor’s office. He remained in this office, being promoted step by step to the chief clerk of the claim department, until October, 1886, when he was appointed assistant freight claim agent in charge of the territory west of Granger, Wyoming. During this time he resided in Salt Lake City, and continued there until December 1, 1887. Then there occurred one of the periodical changes of management to which the Union Pacific has been subject, and Mr. Van Tuyl’s office was abolished with scores of others, and he returned to Omaha and was again employed in the general offices.  Subsequently he was again appointed chief clerk in the freight claim department, which position he resigned in December, 1892, and engaged in the life insurance business as special agent at Omaha for the Northwestern Mutual of Milwaukee.

That position he resigned in October, 1893, to come to Minnesota to take the position which he now holds, that of general agent of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company, of Worcester, Massachusetts, at Minneapolis. He has been successful here, as the records of the company’s business will show, notwithstanding the business depression. Mr. Van Tuyl contributed an essay in June, 1894, on the value of the Life Underwriters’ Association, to the underwriters’ national convention at Chicago, and was so fortunate as to secure the prize offered for the best production. The prize consists of a year’s custody of the loving cup, which is annually the subject of like contest by the representatives of the local associations of the United States. In the following December Mr. Van Tuyl was elected president of the Minnesota Association and served a year in that capacity, declining reelection on account of the pressure of private business, but has since been elected president of the Minneapolis Association, which position he now holds. He is a Republican in politics. His father voted for Fremont, and was a conductor on the famous underground railroad.

Mr. Van Tuyl is a member of the Commercial Club, and of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, and is a director in the Y. M. C. A. He was married in September, 1889, to Katharine J. Bingham, of Northfield Minnesota. He formed her acquaintance in Salt Lake City, where she was preceptress of the Presbyterian Collegiate Institute.  They have three children, Ruth, Hugh Oliver and Ray Whittier.

 

 

 

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