WILLIAM CLARENCE BICKNELL is a lawyer practicing his profession at Morris, Minnesota. He was born June 28, 1855, at Parishville, St. Lawrence County, New York. His parents were Carlos B. Bicknell and Louisa A. Carpenter (Bicknell.) They were farmers in comfortable circumstances. Zachary Bicknell and Agnes, his wife, the first of the name in this country, sailed from England in the spring of 1635, and landed that summer at Wessagusus, now Weymouth, Massachusetts. They came with Rev. Joseph Hull and one hundred and one others from the counties of Somerset and Dorsett in southwest England. From these two have sprung a numerous progeny scattered over all parts of the country, but particularly in the New England states, New York and Pennsylvania. The Carpenters were also from New England, and originally supposed to have been of English birth.

William Clarence lived on a farm and attended the country district school in the winter months, working on the farm during the summer, until sixteen years of age, when he entered the state normal school at Potsdam, New York, and in one year prepared himself for teaching.  After that he worked his own way by teaching in winter and working on the farm in the summer until he graduated from the normal school in 1880.

Three years later he began the study of law in the law department of the University of Michigan, where he was graduated in 1885 with a degree of LL. B. Having completed his legal studies, Mr. Bicknell came to Minnesota and located at Morris, and commenced the practice of his profession. He started out in very straightened financial circumstances, but he has adhered faithfully to his work and has succeeded in building up a satisfactory practice.

In 1886 he was elected county superintendent of schools for Stevens County. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of Golden Sheaf Lodge, of Morris and one of its Past blasters; a member of Mt. Lebanon Royal Arch Chapter and its present high priest; a member of Bethel Commandery, and its present captain general.  He received his Masonic degrees at Minneapolis, and is a member of the order at that city; also a member of the Shrine at St. Paul. In politics he has always been a Republican, and is now county attorney of Stevens County, and serving his first term as such.

He is an attendant, although not a member, of the Congregational church. He was married June 27, 1888, to Miss Nellie M. Finney, of Goodhue County. They have three children now living, Clarence W., Agnes L. and Ezra F. One child, Ira F. died December 30, 1893.

CALVIN LUTHER BROWN The Sixteenth Judicial District of Minnesota has as its judicial officer a man who grew up and received his education and legal training within the state. Judge C. L. Brown, of Morris, presides over the district composed of the counties of Stevens, Grant, Big Stone, Traverse, Pope and Wilkin. Born in the town of Goshen, New Hampshire, April 26, 1854, he came to this state with his parents when only about a year old. His father was Judge John H. Brown, who located at Shakopee in June, 1855. He was admitted to the bar at Chaska in 1856, and continued the practice of his profession until 1875, when he was appointed judge of the Twelfth Judicial District by Governor Davis. He continued in that office without opposition until his death in 1890. Judge John H. Brown was a prominent Mason, having held the office of grand master of the state and grand high priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter.  He was a judge of unimpeachable integrity and administered the duties of his office with conscientious fidelity. His wife’s maiden name was Orrisa Margaret Maxfield. This family of Browns were descended from John Brown who came to this country from England in the ship Lion in 1632 and settled at Marlborough, Massachusetts.  William Brown, the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, served as a private in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted at the age of sixteen from the town of Henniker, New Hampshire, in 1781, and served in Col. Henry Dearborn’s regiment of the New Hampshire Continental line. He was placed on the pension rolls in 1818, and lived until 1855, when he died at the age of ninety years. An uncle of Calvin Luther.  Hon. L. M. Brown, late of Shakopee, Minnesota, was also a prominent member of the legal profession in this state, and was at one time judge of the Eighth Judicial District.

Judge C. L. Brown was educated in the common schools of Minnesota.  He resided at Shakopee until 1871. when his parents removed to Willmar. In 1878, having pursued the study of law with his father, and having been admitted to the bar, he left home at the age of twenty-two and located at Morris. He has resided there ever since. He has held numerous positions of trust, was elected to the office of county attorney of Stevens County in 1882, and continued in that office until he was appointed to the bench in 1887. In that year the Sixteenth district was created and Mr. Brown was appointed judge by Governor McGill, and has been twice elected to the same office without opposition. He is now serving his second elective term. Judge Brown has always been identified with the Republican party, but since taking his position on the bench, has given no personal attention to political matters.

He is also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, having been grand master of the state in 1894 and 1895. He belongs to the Minneapolis Consistory Scottish Rite Masonry, Zuhrah Temple, Mystic Shrine, Knights of Pythias and the A. O. U. W. He also belongs to the Minnesota Society Sons of the American Revolution, of which he is at present a member of the board of directors. He attends, but is not a member, of the Congregational church. Was married in 1879, at Willmar, to Miss Annette Marlow. They have had four children, Olive Lottie (deceased), Alice A., Montreville J. and Edna M.

EDWIN J. JONES  Among the substantial businessmen of Morris is Edwin J. Jones, dealer in lumber, hardware, paints and other building materials. Mr. Jones was born August 22, 1858, at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, the son of Evan J. and Julia Ackerman Jones.

His father was engaged in the lumber business, and Edwin was afforded such educational advantages as were provided by the common schools. After being employed by his father for a time as a bookkeeper in his wholesale lumber business in Winneconne, Wisconsin, Edwin came to Minnesota and located at Morris, in August, 1878, where he took charge of a lumber yard which his father had established there. In 1884 he bought out the business, and in 1895 added a complete hardware stock, which he handles in connection with his lumber trade.

Mr. Jones has always been a Republican, and was elected by the Republicans state senator for the Forty-ninth Legislative District in 1894. He has also been drafted into the public service by his fellow townsmen, having served as village recorder in 1881 and 1882, and having been elected member of the city council in 1883. In 1884 he was president of the village. Mr. Jones’ election to the legislature was a triumph. He received 700 majority over the fusion candidate, carrying every precinct in his own county.

Mr. Jones is a Mason and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery, Minneapolis Consistory No. 2, and Zurah Temple, of Minneapolis. He has also held several important offices in these bodies. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the A. O. U. W. He is an attendant of the Congregational church, although not a member. May 29th, 1883 he was married to Nellie A. Butterfield, of Waupun, Wisconsin. They have one son, ten years old. Henry Butterfield Jones.