Back to BiographiesBIOGRAPHIES 'F'
NICHOLAS FABER was born at Befort,
Luxemburg, May 24, 1840. In August, 1852, he came to Minnesota. He
enlisted April 19, 1861, in Co. A Pioneer Co. Mo. Vols.; was
mustered out in St. Louis, Sept. 1, 1861. He reenlisted in August,
1862, and served in Co. B, New York Massive Artillery; was taken
prisoner near Kingston, North Carolina, in December, 1863, and was
taken to Libby prison in Richmond. where he remained a number of
months. After the war he came to Champlin, arriving there in
1866. He conducted a general store at Champlin for many years
and was postmaster eighteen years. He also served two terms on the
school board. Mr. Faber was married July 24, 1862, to Catherine
Jane Kinser. Children: Harry F., Frederick N., John P. (deceased),
Adonis J., Minnie C. (Mrs. James H. Milhollin).
WILLIAM WALLACE FITCH was born in Mahoming county, Ohio, May 29,
1832. He was married in 1857 to Lucy J. Greenough. In 1866 he
moved to Anoka, where he resided up to the time of his death,
April 19, 1900. He was judge of the Anoka municipal court for a
number of years. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having
enlisted in the First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. Children: Orlo H.
(died 1884). Caroline E. (Mrs., Frank Gordon, Blaine. Anoka C0,),
Ora A. (Mrs. D. B. Allen, 2930 Tyler St., N. E., Minneapolis).
FRANK L. FOLSOM was born in Danville, Maine, March 13, 1858. Until
the age of nineteen he lived on a farm, after which he went to
Boston and worked in a furniture factory eight years. He came to
Minnesota in 1884, and worked in Smith & Wyman’s sash and door
factory two years. About 1897 he entered the employ of the Cable
Piano Company at Minneapolis, and in 1901 opened a branch store of
the Cable Company at Anoka, which business he still conducts. Mr.
Folsom was married March 10, 1886, to Addie R. Moses. Children:
Lester M. and Florence A.
SIMEON P. FOLSOM was born in Lower Canada near Quebec, Dec. 27,
1819. His father was a native of New Hampshire. S. P. Folsom came
west in 1839, and settled first at Prairie du Chien. Not long
afterward he was engaged as clerk for Henry M. Rice at Fort
Atkinson. In 1841 he returned to Prairie du Chien and for several
years acted as surveyor of county lands. In 1846 he volunteered as
a soldier in the Mexican War, but instead of being sent to the
front, was ordered to Fort Crawford for garrison duty in order to
relieve the regulars, who were sent to Mexico. On July 25, 1847,
he landed in St. Paul, and during the following winter purchased a
half interest in the Rum river trading post from Patrick Caine and
removed here with his wife about the middle of February, 1848. The
following spring he bought a barrel of potatoes at Fort Snelling
for four dollars. He pared them rather thick, and having eaten the
potatoes, planted the parings on a little patch of ground near his
dwelling and raised forty bushels of potatoes. This was the first
crop of potatoes raised in what is now Anoka county. In the fall
he removed to Elk River, taking the potatoes with him for his
winter’s supply. Mr. Folsom surveyed ,the original site of St.
Paul and also of St. Anthony. At the latter place he was given
permission to use his own discretion to a considerable extent,
and it is largely to his foresight that Minneapolis owes her wide
streets. Mr. Folsom is the oldest rail road man in the state, both
in years and time of service, having begun his career with Edmund
Rice in 1854, some four years before the first track was laid. When
James J. Hill secured possession of the old St. Paul and Pacific
railroad Mr. Folsom was displaced for a time, but after a few
years Mr. Hill sent for him, and he has been in the employ of the
great railroad manager through all the mutations and changes
which have since occurred. Mr. Folsom at the age of eighty-five is
still one of the attorneys for the Great Northern Railroad. (See
portrait, page 33)
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