Arland H. Allen

Arland H. Allen, undertaker, is one of Red Wing’s estimable and solid citizens, well fitted by nature and training for the position he occupies in the community. He was born in Norway, September 26, 1846, and was brought to America as an infant. His parents, Hans and Barbara E. (Stenseth) Allen, left the old country in 1847, and started for America in a sailing vessel. A terrible storm arose soon after their departure, and for nineteen weeks the frail bark was tossed about, almost at the mercy of the storm. It weathered the raging elements, however, and after nearly five months the landing in this country was safely accomplished. The family located first at Jefferson Prairie, Wis., and there the father followed the trades of carpenter and stone mason, also doing some farming. Like so many thousand others he followed the great rush to Pikes Peak after gold, but the rigors of gold-seeking life proved too great a strain for his constitution and he died there in August, 1859. His wife then moved her family to Decorah, Iowa, in 1860, and remained there several years, afterward going to Albert Lea, Minn., where she passed away in February, 1904. Arland, having as an infant survived those long months of that terrible sea-voyage, grew to robust boyhood at Jefferson Prairie, Wis., and attended the public schools of that state. He was also a pupil in the Adams High School of Decorah, Iowa.. Later he took a course in the Rochester, N. Y., Medical Institute, receiving his diploma. In 1872 he came to Red Wing, and for several years was secretary for the Red Wing Furniture Company. He afterward embarked in the undertaking business in which he has since continued. Mr. Allen is a Republican in politics, and for three terms served as county coroner. For some time he served as a member of Company G in the state militia. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Arland H. Allen was married at Frontenac, Minn., October 21, 1896, to Anna S. Johnson, of Red Wing, daughter of Edward and Christina (Dosen) Johnson, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1866. They located first at St, Paul, Minn., and there their daughter, Anna S., was born. From St. Paul they went to White Hall, Wis., then to St. Peter, Minn., then to Red Wing, where the father was engineer at the

J. W. Chandler

Lutheran Ladies Seminary. Later thy lived at Frontenac for one year, then returned to St. Peter, and subsequently went to Kasota, Minn., where the father now lives. The mother died at that place, August 20, 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born five children— Barbara C., Thelma-J., Arland IT. (deceased) Edward M. and Arland H.

John W. Chandler, for two decades a prominent figure about the capitol at Washington, was a native of Jamestown, N. Y., where his family name is one of much honor and dignity. His father, W. W. Chandler, (married to Phoebe Windsor) was the owner of a large plantation in Virginia, from whence he went to Jamesstown in the late twenties. There John W. was born, August 18, 1834. The father engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods on an extensive scale, and took an active interest in municipal affairs, Chandler street, which is one of the leading thoroughfares of Jamestown, being cut through land donated by him to the city. During his boyhood, John W. attended the public schools of Jamestown, N. Y., and as a young man, made his first business venture in the hardware business. His success warranted his desiring to start the same business on a larger scale in a never country, and in the early sixties he came to the Northwest, engaging in the sale of hardware at Pine Island, this county. About 1867 he received an appointment as doorkeeper in the capitol at Washington. In that city he remained twenty years, serving in various public positions, and meeting all the great political characters of note during that period. In 1887 he came to Red Wing, and lived a retired life until his death, April 30, 1903. During this period he took an active interest in public affairs, and his advice on many important matters was eagerly sought by his friends. Mr. Chandler was married at Jamestown, N. Y., to Grace Hatch, who died in 1872, leaving one son, Martin, S., now engaged as editor of the law department of the West Publishing Company, at St. Paid.

In 1885 there came to this country, Margaret N. Nelson, daughter of AY. A. and Elsie (Paulson) Nelson, born at Christianstad, Sweden, the father being a well-to-do manufacturer of that city. She entered the home of the Chandlers as a nurse, and the friendship and esteem between this lady and John W. Chandler ripened into love and marriage, the ceremony being performed September 30, 1893. Mrs. Chandler is one of a family of five children, all of whom have attained prominence in their respective communities. Otto Nelson is district railroad manager at Christianstad, Sweden; Ander is manager of a chemical establishment at ITelsingborg, Sweden; Nels W. is a successful real estate agent in California, and Nanny is married to Nels

E. Olson, a well-known Swedish architect. Mrs. Chandler is much interested in both church and charitable work.

George Cook is the man to whom belongs the real credit for starting the sewer pipe industry in Red AYing. While employed as superintendent in the stoneware works he at one period occupied his spare time in an experiment which resulted in the making of a two-socket sewer pipe which was placed on exhibition in the window of the Pierce, Simons & Company bank. This pipe was six inches in diameter and was cast from three sacks of waste clay,, the moulds being made of plaster paris by Mr. Cook, and the burning being done in the kilns at the pottery works. In three weeks a company was started which is now one of the leading industries of the Northwest. A complete history of the concern will be found in the story of industries of Red Wing, appearing in this volume. George Cook was born in Akron, Ohio, January 19, 1852, son of Lewis and Catherine (Prior) Cook, both natives of Germany. The father, a cooper by trade, came to America in 1839 and located in Akron, Ohio, built a house and remained over sixty years until his death, August 25, 1902. His wife died in 1888 at the age of 65 years. George received his education in the Ohio public schools, and took up work with his father, learning the cooper trade. He then started in the pottery business, an occupation which has since engaged his attention. His first employment in the business was with Hart & Ruckel, in his native town, and subsequently he worked eight yars in the turning department of the Whitmore & Robertson Company, of the same place. After working in Nebraska and several other states, he came to Red Wing, May 25, 1879. and at once entered the employ of the Red Wing Stoneware Company, as superintendent, a position he has filled Avith marked ability for some thirty years. When the stoneware companies were incorporated, Mr. Cook became the superintendent of all the factories under the OAvnership of the concern. In 1891-92 he Avas honored with a seat in the city council. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Cook has been closely identified with the life of the Odd Pel I o ays and the Woodmen, and in the former order has occupied all the official chairs. He was married September 26. 1881, to Thresa Hartman, of this city, daughter, of Frank and Thresa (Ammon) Hartman, the former of Avliom Avas a blacksmith by trade. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook there have been born three sons — George A., born June 15, 1882, is an assistant superintendent at the stoneware works under his father; Harry C., born June 18, 1885, is a student in the State University; Burt, born February 15, 1892, is taking a course in the Red AYing Business College. The family faith is that of the Episcopal Church. The residence is at 1304 Fourth street, Reel AYing.

As printed in History of Dakota and Goodhue counties, Minnesota / (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.