Fifty Years In The Northwest / With An Introduction And Appendix Containing Reminiscences, Incidents And Notes

by William H. C. Folsom

Hollis R. Murdock was born in Governeur, New York, Aug. 15, 1832. He graduated at Williams College, Massachusetts, in 1854, came to Stillwater in 1855, and was admitted to the practice of law in 1856, since which time he has been in continuous practice. He has held many offices of trust. Has been judge of the probate court and member of the legislature from Washington county, and director of a bank and railroad company. Mr. Murdock was married to Sarah A. Rice, Nov. 3, 1857.

George M. Seymour was born in Onondaga county, New York, March 26, 1829. Part of his early life he spent on a farm, but later he learned the carpenter's trade and became a builder and contractor. While in Syracuse he engaged for some years in the manufacture of lumber and staves, and later, of salt. He was married to Anna B. Kingsley in 1851. In 1858 he came to Stillwater, and in 1861 was awarded the prison contract, and engaged in making cooperage. He was one of the founders of the firms of Seymour, Webster & Co. and Seymour, Sabin & Co. (the Northwestern Car Company). He was sheriff of Washington county for two years.

Frank A. Seymour, only son of George M., was cashier of the First National Bank of Stillwater for four years, and subsequently cashier of the Merchants Bank, St. Paul.

Marion O., only daughter of George M. Seymour, graduated from Mount Holyoke Seminary in 1880.

LOUIS HOSPES

Louis Hospes, for many years identified with the Schulenberg-Boeckeler Lumber Company, and father of A. C. Hospes, surveyor general of logs and lumber, E. L. Hospes of the Schulenberg-Boeckeler Company, and Otto G. Hospes of the hardware firm of A. C. Hospes & Co., died April 9, 1888. The deceased was born in the landgravate of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Feb. 8, 1809, and attended school in the city of Witzenhausen until he was sixteen years old. He then became a farmer, which avocation he followed for four years. He then entered the University of Gottingen, where he made a special study of the theory and practice of agriculture and of veterinary medicine and surgery. Retiring from the university, for two years he took charge of the farms on some large estates. In 1832 he sailed from Bremen for America, arriving at New York on September 4th of that year. Leaving that city on the eleventh of the same month, he arrived in St. Louis on October 18th. From that city he went to St. Charles county, where he engaged in agriculture and other pursuits until 1840. During his residence there he married Elvira Wurdeman, who survives him. In 1840 he removed to Green county, Southwest Missouri, where he made his home for the next six years among the Ozark mountains, where he and two brothers engaged in the distilling business. In 1848 Mr. Hospes went to St. Louis and entered the employ of Schulenberg & Boeckeler, where he remained until Oct. 21, 1854, when he came to Stillwater to take charge of the business of his employers here. In 1856 he became a partner in the concern, and continued so until 1874, when the firm reorganized as the Schulenberg-Boeckeler Lumber Company. When he retired, his son, E. L. Hospes, succeeded to his interest, which he now holds. In 1871 Mr. Hospes visited Europe with his family, spending a year abroad. In 1862, with his associates, he organized the First National Bank of Stillwater, of which he has been president for twenty years. His life in this city has been that of an active, energetic and generally successful business man, and though conservative in his business operations has always been ready to lend a helping hand to any deserving or practical business enterprise. He was marked for that fixed and reliable character which made his name a tower of strength to any enterprise with which he was connected, and his integrity, extending to little things, became proverbial. Besides the sons named he left two daughters, Mrs. H. E. Mann, of Milwaukee, and Mrs. J. Schlenk, of St. Paul.

David Tozer was born in Miramachi, New Brunswick, in 1823. His early opportunities for obtaining an education were somewhat limited, and he obtained only three months' schooling. He came to Stillwater in 1856 and engaged in lumbering, working by the month for five years, and afterward independently or in partnership with his brother Albert, and in the firm of Sauntry & Tozer, cutting and rafting lumber. He was married in Canada, in 1867, to Margaret McKay. Mr. Tozer has been an industrious and successful man.

David Bronson was born in Anson, Maine, in 1834. He clerked in Boston from 1850 to 1855, when he came to Stillwater, where he has since been engaged in selling goods, lumbering and manufacturing. He was married in 1861 to Ianthe Davis.

John Maloy is of Irish descent. He was born in Ireland, and emigrated to New Brunswick. He came to Stillwater with his family in 1853, and engaged in lumbering. His family consisted of nine sons and three daughters. The daughters are married. Four of the sons are living; two of them. Patrick and William, in Oregon, and the others, James and Robert, in Stillwater.