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 BIOGRAPHIES 'W'

JAMES WARHURST was born in Boston, Lancashire Co., England, Oct. 4, 1831. There he worked as a cotton spinner. In 1876 he came to Minnesota and to Anoka Co., purchasing a farm in section 28, town of Bethel. He was married in 1860 to Hannah Bardsley, who died in 1876. In 1878 Mr. Warhurst was married to Sarah W. Wyatt. Children: Benjamin, Levi, and Elizabeth (Mrs. Louis Blake).

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

Hon. WILLIAM DREW WASHBURN is a native of Maine, and the youngest of eleven children, two of whom became govern ors of states and members of congress, and two others became United States ministers to foreign countries. Mr. Washburn graduated from Bowdoin college in 1854, and after taking a law course came to St. Anthony in 1857. Soon after his arrival he became agent for the Minneapolis Mill Company, which owned the water power on the west side of the falls. The energy and business acumen with which he guided the company's business through the financial depression following the panic of 1857 won the confidence of men of means and no doubt in large measure laid the foundation for the immense enterprises, involving millions of dollars of capital, in which he afterward engaged. The projection and building of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad and in later years of the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic, better known as the “S00” Railway, were in large measure his work. Anoka county citizens have numerous reasons for remembering the aid given by him to worthy enterprises in their midst, and his kindly advice has been frequently sought by her business men in cases of emer gency. In addition to his milling interests, Mr. Washburn was the founder of the Anoka National Bank, and also built an opera house at Anoka, which was destroyed in the fire of 1884. With all the pressure of private business, Mr. Washburn has found time to devote to public affairs. He was twice elected to a seat in the Minnesota legislature, and in 1878 became .1 member of congress from the district embracing Anoka county, serving three terms in the national House of Representatives. In 1889 he was elected United States Senator from Minnesota, MAJOR W1LL1AM D. HALE. in which capacity he served six years. As a director of the Pillsbury-Washburn Flour Mills Company Senator Washburn still retains an interest in the Lincoln mill.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

CHARLES WELDON was born Apr. 22, 1822, in Orange, Ohio. He learned cabinet making, coming to Minnesota and to St. Francis in the spring of 1856, where he did farming. In the year 1844 he was married to Charlotte Smith. Children: Elvira (Mrs. Frederick Bond), Lycurgus, Francis, Alice (dcceased). Charles Weldon is still living at the age of eighty two. Until about twelve years ago he kept bees at Champlin, a business in which he was very successful. He was known far and wide as the “honey man,” and always gave to the poor, making many friends.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

ROBERT F. WHIDDEN, county surveyor, was born Jan. 7, 1841. at Dartmouth, N. S., but at the age of six his parents removed to Penobscot Co., Maine. At sixteen he entered employment in lumbering and followed this business for fifty years. In 1864 he went to Michigan, and was in both the Detroit and Bay City districts. After several years in Maine again, he came to Anoka in September, 1873. The county commissioners appointed him county surveyor Sept. 14, 1903, and at the election of 1904 he was chosen as his own successor. Mr. Whidden was married at Burlington, Maine, in 1866 to Lucy E. Warren. Children: Walter (Everett, Wash.), and Inez E. (Mrs. Frank Gillis).

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

RUSSELL WHITEMAN, M. D., was born in Essex, New York, where he lived until fourteen years of age. He graduated from Union College, Philadelphia, in 1844. In 1857 he came to Minnesota and took a claim in Meeker county. At the time of the Sioux Indian outbreak he escaped with his family to an island in Cedar Lake, where he remained six weeks, going ashore at night for provisions. In 1864 he came to Anoka, where he practiced medicine until his death, Feb. 26, 1893. Dr. Whiteman was married in 1849 to Mary Cheever, who died in 1865, leaving six children: George R., Mary F., Anna R., William C., Minnie L., Charles C. Dr. Whiteman was married again in 1867 to Sarah A. Mayall, who died in 1879, leaving three children: Harry, Jessie and Warren.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

FRANKLIN WHITNEY was born in Cumberland Co., Maine, Sept 21, 1830. When a young man he followed the sea, principally in the West India trade; later he came west and engaged in railroad construction in Ohio. In 1855 he came to St. Francis, Anoka Co., settling the next summer in Oak Grove, where he lived up to the time of his death, Jan. 19, 1899. Mr. Whitney served in the state legislature two terms, and a number of years as county commissioner. He was postmaster at Oak Grove continuously from 1860 until the time of his death. Mr. Whitney was married Aug. 13, 1857, to Mary Head. .

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

ANDREW E. WICKSTROM was born in Sweden Oct. 1, 1844. He worked at farming until coming to America in 1864. He enlisted the same year in the Second Minn. Regiment. Was mustered out with the regiment in 1865. After the war he came to Anoka and worked most of the time for Ammi Cutter in the saw mill until 1870, when he purchased 160 acres in sections 17, 18 and 19, town of Oak Grove, where he has since lived. He was married May 7, 1870, to Bessie Bodfors, who died in August, 1903. Children: Ida W. (Mrs. Charles Rose, Dyer, Wash.), Clara L. (Lafayette, Ind.), Rosa E. (Mrs. W. C. Cutler, Seattle, Wash.), Adolf F. (Brewster, Wash.), Lizzie B., Charles A., Hattie and Andrew G.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

W. E. WILBERG was born in Krusemark, Saxony. Feb. 22, 1862. He attended the schools in Germany and the English schools after coming to Anoka. He learned the trade of a harness maker in his native country, and came to Minnesota in 1882, arriving in Anoka Oct. 14th of that year. After working at his trade one year for W. B. Wilson, he purchased the business, Oct. 14, 1883, and has continued ever since at the same stand. He was chief of the Anoka fire department from May 1, 1894, to May 1, 1903, and has been alderman of the First Ward since April 6, 1904. He has also been leader of the Anoka Cornet Band fifteen years and of Wilberg’s Orchestra five years. He was married March 29, 1890, to Verena Zopfe. Chilrden: Edward and Dorothea.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

HENRY Z. WILHELM was born June 3, 1838, in Venango Co., Penn. He came to Minnesota Apr. 25, 1866, and to Anoka Co., Oct. 25, 1884, settling on a farm in section 14, town of Anoka. At different times Mr. Wilhelm has held all the school offices in his district. He enlisted July 4, 1861, as corporal in Co. C, Sixty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving as color guard. He is a member of J. S. Cady Post and of the Masonic order. He was married Oct. 16, 1862, to Fiann Myers. Children: Gilmore (deceased), Pernellia (deceased), Hugh, Jacob and Myra E.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

JAMES HERBERT WILSON was born in the town of Ramsey, Anoka Co., Dec. 27, 1862. He attended the common schools in Ramsey and in Paynesville, Minn., where his father lived eight years. He has been a farmer all his life. He bought his present home and 30 acres of land in section 35, town of Ramsey, in 1898. He was married July 27, 1890, to Blanche M. Anderson. They have four children: Anna E., Clara, Ruby and Pearl.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

JOHN W. WILSON was born in Ramsey, Anoka Co., Jan. 12, 1858. He was educated in the common schools of Ramsey and Paynesville, Minn. Mr. Wilson is a farmer, owning ninety acres in section thirty-five, about forty of which are under cultivation. He has been town treasurer for two years and school district treasurer for three years. He was married June 13, 1880, to Ida M. Edgarton. They have one son, Henry H.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

BERNARD J. WITTE was born in Westphalia, Germany, Nov. 20, 1863. He received his education in Germany and in Burlington, Iowa. In 1885 he came to St. Paul, Minn., and in 1895 to Anoka, where he has kept a drug store. He was married Nov. 25, 1887, to Frances B. Beck. They have two sons, Bernard and Francis.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

ALBERT WOODBURY (deceased; son of Dwight Woodbury), was born at Groton, Mass., Aug. 5, 1835. He received his higher education at Andover College and came to Anoka in 1858, where he became a member of the firm of Smiley & Woodbury, operating the Anoka Flour Mill, which they purchased from his uncle, Caleb Woodbury. He was the first member initiated into the Masonic lodge at Anoka after its organization and also the first to be raised to the degree of master mason. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he was active in the organization of a company of volunteers which was in tended as a part of the First Regiment. This company was not accepted, however, and Mr. Woodbury turned over his milling interests to his brother, Charles T., and engaged with Captain Wm. A. Hotchkiss in the organization of the Second Minnesota Battery, of which he became first lieutenant. At the battle of Chickamauga he commanded the battery, and was so severely wounded that he died in the hospital Oct. 29, 1863.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

CHARLES T. WOODBURY (son of Dwight Woodbury), was born Apr. 17, 1839, in Columbus, Ohio. He lived with his grandfather while attending the academy at Munson, Mass. After leaving school he became manager of a shoe factory. He came to Minnesota and to Anoka in 1862 and purchased an interest in the flour mill from his brother Albert, who had just enlisted for the Civil War. The firm of Smiley & Woodbury continued the milling business until the mill was sold to John Mayall, since which time Mr. Woodbury has been engaged in real estate, insurance and lumbering. He has served two terms in the Minnesota legislature (1874-5), and one term as county commissioner. In 1897 he was elected mayor of Anoka, almost without his knowledge, his friends writing his name on their ballots in opposition to the regular nominees of the conventions. Mr. Woodbury is unmarried.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

DWIGHT WOODBURY (deceased) was born at Charlton, Worcester Co., Mass., Oct. 26, 1800. At the age of seventeen he went to Tompkins county, where he was a clerk in stores and also taught school. For nine years he conducted stores near Atlanta and at Macon, Georgia, and then opened a store at Columbus, Ohio, where he remained until 1843. The next twelve years he was in the wholesale and jobbing dry goods business in New York city, and in 1855 came to Anoka, where his son Albert had preceded him. He bought large tracts of land in what is now St. Francis, and built a dam and mills at that point. In conjunction with the late A. M. Fridley, Mr. Woodbury was at one time largely instrumental in saving the charter of the St. Paul & Pacific railroad (the original name of the Great Northern). The charter had lapsed, and it was only by adroit management that the .legislature was persuaded to grant an extension. Mr. Woodbury was twice married. His first wife was Mercy D. Town, to whom he was married Sept 17, 1832, and who died June 18, 1848, leaving four children: Mary (died, 1853), Albert (died from wounds received at Chickamauga), Charles T., and George D. Mr. Woodbury’s second wife was Sally Spurr, to whom he was married Sept. 24, 1857. Children: Mary D. (Mrs. I. A. Caswell) and John S. (died Sept. 27, 1902). Mr. Woodbury died March 18, 1884.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

EDWARD K. WOODBURY was born at Sutton, Worcester Co., Mass., Apr. 9, 1845. He was educated in the public schools and engaged in farming. In January, 1861, he came to Anoka. where he has been engaged in the boot and shoe industry. Mr. Woodbury was married June 28, 1880, to Minnie C. Laird They have one son, Roy R.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

JOHN SPURR WOODBURY (deceased) was born Feb. 22, 1862, in Anoka. He received his education in the Anoka high school and in Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. After leaving school he worked in his father’s office and after the death of his father became manager of the St. Francis Milling Co., and took up his residence.at St. Francis, where he also built a hotel. He died Sept. 27, 1902.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

ALGERNON R. WOODMANSEE was born at St. Paul, Minn., Oct. 12, 1867. He resides in Anoka, although his busines interests are in Minneapolis. He was married in November, 1900, to Minnie Hutchins.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

BENJAMIN D. WOODMANSEE was born in Hamilton, Ohio, in February, 1839. He was one of the most famous and successful horsemen in the Northwest, and for many years was manager of the Midway Driving Park. He was married to Hattie Davis, daughter of Azariah Davis. They had one son, Algernon R. Mr. Woodmansee died April 9, 1897.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

ARTHUR J. WOODRUFF was born in Connecticut Jan. 2, 1849. Came to Iowa in 1865. Came to Anoka county about 1869, and located at St. Francis, where he engaged in wagon making until about 1892, since which time he has been chiefly engaged in millwright work. His wife was Mrs. Maria J. Dorsey (nee Seelye), to whom he was married in 1878. Children Evangeline and Charles.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

PHILLIP EUGENE WOODWORD was born in Minneapolis in 1867, where he attended the graded and high schools. His first service was that of cash boy for George W. Hale. He later went to Frederick, S. D., where he opened a dry goods store, and was assistant postmaster. He left South Dakota in 1882, and returned to Minneapolis, where he entered the employ of Shotwell & Clerihew as city salesman. He sold woolens to the manufacturing trade in the East for three years for Deering, Millikan & Co., New York. He sold silks in Chicago for a year for A. J. Cameron, Philadelphia. Later he was three years with Wyman, Partridge & Co., Minneapolis. In 1894 he came to Anoka, and in company with his father opened a dry goods store under the firm name of P. G. Woodward & Co. Both father and son affiliate with the Loyal Legion and Masonic fraternities. P. E. Woodward was married in 1895 to Millie B. Lane of Minneapolis, daughter of J. S. Lane, the lumberman. Children: Philip Eugene and Jane.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

PHILLIP GRENVILLE WOODWORD was born at Orange, Mass., Aug. 20, 1837. After leaving school he conducted an art store at Lockport, New York, and later was in the same business at Rochester, New York. He was in the grocery business in Minneapolis two years and was United States store keeper five years during the time the Minneapolis Exposition was open. He was postmaster and kept a general store three years at Frederick, S. D. He enlisted in August, 1862, as a private in Co. H, Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Infantry; was promoted sergeant, first sergeant, acting sergeant major, and commissioned by Gov. John A. Andrew as second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain. Was mustered out with the regiment in June, 1865, at the close of the war. Captain Woodward first came to Minnesota in August, 1858, and has beeen a resident of Anoka since May, 1894, his business here being that of a dry goods and shoe merchant. He served as alderman of the city of Anoka in 1901-2 and has been a member of the school board. He has also held offices in the following orders: Masons, Eastern Star, G. A. R. and U. V. U. He was married in October, 1860, to Hannah Evelyn Ryan. Children: Jennie Evelyn (Mrs. E. J. C. Atterbury, deceased), Effie Agnes (Mrs. Bert J. Warde), Philip Eugene, Charles Warner (deceased) and Lester Stuart.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

FRANCIS ROBERT WYATT was born in Lee Mill Bridge, Devonshire, England, June 23, 1859. For some time he worked in a paper mill. He came to Anoka Co. in 1877, settling on a farm in section 28, town of Bethel. He was married to Harriet Clarkson April 13, 1882. Children: Maude (deceased), Edith, Jennie, Thomas and Mary Ann.

~Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County Minnesota, by Albert M Goodrich, Minneapolis, Hennepin Publishing Co., 1905

HON. GEORGE H. WYMAN, attorney at law and senior member of the firm of Wyman & Blanchard, Anoka, was born August 24, 1852, at Chester, Penobscot county, Maine. After attend ing the schools of his native town, also Mattanacook Academy, at Lincoln, and the Lee Normal School, he graduated from the Maine Central Institute, of Pittsfield, in 1873. Afterward he entered Bates College at Lewiston, Maine, graduating there from in 1877. Having been well grounded in academical training, he decided to devote his life to the legal profession, and forthwith commenced reading law with Brown & Simpson, and later with Plaisted & Smith, both distinguished practitioners of Bangor, finally finishing his legal training in the school of actual practice with Lebrooke & Parsons, of Foxcroft, Maine. He was admitted to practice law, including a hearing before the supreme court, in 1881. In 1884 Mr. Wyman came to Anoka, his parents following two years later. During his residence here his law practice has been varied, extensive, and eminently successful. He has held several important positions in the gift of the people, and is now a representative of this, the Forty-fifth district, in the state legislature, having been elected without an opposing candidate. He is also a member of the Republican State Central Committee. His lodge affiliations are K. P., R. A. and M. W. A. Mr. Wyman was married in Anoka June 30, 1886, to Orie D. Storms of Hannibal, Oswego Co., N. Y. Children: May, Orabelle and Marguerite.