Redwood County, MN Biographies
Redwood County, MN Biographies
DR. LEMONT S. CRANDALL figures as the
oldest medical practitioner in Lamberton, Minnesota, and dates his identity with the town from the year 1875. His
life history is worthy of a place in this biographical record. and will be read with interest by many. Briefly,
it is as follows:
Lemont S. Crandall was born in Allegany county, New York, May 27, 1835, son of Hampton and Sally (Bentley) Crandall,
early residents of that county. In 1847 the Crandall family came west to Wisconsin and established their home in
Dane county, that being the year Wisconsin was admitted into the Union of states, and there they lived for twenty
years. Later in life the parents moved to Rock county, that state, where they passed their closing years, and where
they died and are buried. Their family comprised three children,- Lemont S., Annie M. and DeForest, the subject
of our sketch being the eldest and at the time of their removal to Wisconsin a boy of twelve years. In Dane county
he grew to manhood. During his youth and early manhood he was variously employed, chiefly, however, in agricultural
pursuits. From 1858 to 1860 he was a resident of Greene county, Iowa, and in 1860 returned to Dane county, where
he was shortly afterward appointed postmaster of Utica, in which position he served acceptably until he resigned
in 1863. He then came over into Minnesota, and in Sibley county enlisted for service in the Union ranks, going
out as a member of Company D, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, and was in the army about one year, after which
he was honorably discharged. Returning to Sibley county, Minnesota, after his army service, he engaged in the drug
business at Alden, which he conducted there about two years, and at the same time took up the study of medicine
under Dr. Russell's instructions. Later he attended medical lectures in New York. On his return from the east he
entered upon the practice of his profession in Mankato, Blue Earth county, where he continued his residence and
did a successful business until 1875, when he removed to Lamberton. Here he soon built up a large and lucrative
practice, which he has maintained throughout the years which have intervened since then. and in connection with
which he conducts a successful business in the drug line.
Dr. Crandall has been twice married. His first wife, whom he wedded in Utica, Wisconsin, was Eunice Campbell, like
himself, a native of the Empire state. She died during their residence in Sibley county, Minnesota, leaving three
children, DeForest. Marion and William. His present wife, formerly Mrs. Amelia Koenig, a native of Germany, he
married in New Ulm, Brown county, this state.
During the more than twenty years Dr. Crandall has resided in Lamberton he has been actively interested in all
measures intended to advance the welfare of the town, He was several years its postmaster, and has also filled
other local positions of prominence and trust. Politically, he is a Republican, ever active and enthusiastic in
the interest of his party; and, being a veteran of the Union army, is of course identified with that popular organization
known as the G. A. R., his membership being in Colonel David Hughes Post, of Lamberton.
Source: Memorial of S.W. Minnesota, Pub. 1897 - Submitted by Gary Boomgarden
Hon. CHARLES D. GILFILLAN has made
for himself a reputation in business and political circles that numbers him among the eminent citizens of the state,
yet he is one of the most modest men, and anything in the shape of fulsome compliment would be utterly distasteful
to him. The work he has accomplished nevertheless speaks for itself, and the upright, commendable life of Mr. Gilfillan
is so well known in his adopted state that the historian needs but to state facts, and the reader will see between
the lines the many points of his character that well deserve eulogy.
Mr. Gilfillan now resides at his country seat near Redwood Falls, Minnesota. He was born in Oneida county, New
York, July 4, 1831, a son of James and Janet Gilfillan, who were born in the historic town of Bannockburn, Scotland,
where the Gilfillans have lived for some centuries. The parents came to the United States in 1830, on a vessel
loaded with Scotch families, and settled in Oneida county, New York, where they spent their remaining days, the
father following agricultural pursuits. He was a cousin of the celebrated Scotch-Presbyterian minister, Rev. George
Gilfillan, whose fame was limited only by the boundary lines of knowledge of the great men of his day.
Charles D. Gilfillan was one of a family of four children, three of whom are now living. He spent his early life
in a manner similar to that of the average boy who is reared in rural districts, save that he perhaps had better
educational facilities. After attending the academy in his native town, at a time when he was seventeen years of
age, he entered Hamilton College, where he remained two years. Almost a half century later, in 1893, this college
made him one of its honorary members and conferred upon him the degree of M. A.
In the fall of 1850 Mr. Gilfillan went to Missouri and taught school in Washington county. It was really his first
independent effort in life, the first step on the road which has brought him honor and fame. In 1851 he went to
Stillwater, Minnesota, where, in addition to teaching school, he studied law for two years, and was then admitted
to the bar. He began practice in Stillwater, where he remained until the fall of 1854, when he went to the then
new village of St. Paul and commenced to practice law, forming three years afterward a law partnership with his
brother, James Gilfillan. Becoming interested in the political issues and questions of the day which then had such
marked effect upon the welfare of the country, he identified himself with the Republican party, and was one of
the young men who aided in its organization in that section of the state and labored so zealously for its interests.
The law partnership with his brother was continued until 1861, after which our subject practiced alone until 1866.
About that time he put in the great water-works in St. Paul, with which his name will be linked as long as the
city stands, He also became interested in building and real-estate dealings, and erected the Gilfillan block, which
at the time of its completion was the handsomest office building west of Chicago. His business interests have been
extensive in scope and have been of that character which add to the general prosperity while advancing his individual
welfare. He has the strictest regard for all that is honorable and straightforward in dealing, and thus gained
the confidence of the many with whom he was brought in contact. He is now the oldest bank officer living in the
northwest, being at the time of this writing (1896) vice-president of the First National Bank of St. Paul and connected
with other banking institutions and financial concerns in various parts of the state. He is also an officer in
the St. Paul Trust Company, and aided in organizing that important corporation. He is now practically retired from
business interests, though he still manages to a degree his magnificent farm of ten thousand acres, which he calls
a pork and cattle factory. for on an extensive scale he buys and fattens stock, which he ships to Chicago, where
it brings the highest market price. He has private stockyards, barns and every convenience which will accelerate
his business interests, and ships several train-loads of stock each year. This is probably the largest farm owned
and cultivated by one man in any strictly farming community in the state of Minnesota.
Mr. Gilfillan was married December 28, 1859, to Miss Emma C. Waage, daughter of Rev. Frederick and Jemima Waage.
Her father was a German clergyman of considerable note and prominence. Mrs. Gilfillan died in Philadelphia, September
25, 1865, at the age of thirty years. By that marriage there was one child, who died in infancy. Our subject afterward
married Fannie Waage, a sister of his first wife, and they have four children: Emma K.; Frederick J., who is now
a student in a university of Berlin; Fannie W. and Charles O. Mr. Gilfillan has provided his children with the
most excellent educational advantages that wealth can procure, and they have studied in the best schools of this
country and in Europe. He believes strongly in the sovereignty of mind. and by advanced mental training has prepared
his children for the duties and responsibilities that life may bring to them.
Early in life Mr. Gilfillan was a Whig, and cast his first vote for the Whig ticket; but on the organization of
the Republican party joined its ranks and has since been one of its stalwart advocates. In the fall of 1864 he
was elected to the state legislature, serving one year, and in 1875 was reelected, while in 1876 he was sent to
the state senate, where he served continuously for ten years. He was active and instrumental in procuring the passage
of some of Minnesota 's most wholesome and just laws found on the statute books of the state.
He was chairman of the committee on railroads, and was for ten years on the judiciary committee. He was the first
chairman of the territorial Republican committee in 1855. and in the year 1865 made the canvass of the state for
governor. The character of Mr. Gilfillan is shown by the fact that on one occasion he left a sick-bed and was assisted
to the floor of the senate in order to secure legislation for a friend who needed help. Mr. Gilfillan drafted the
bill and worked for it until it was passed. This fact coming into public notice won him the respect of all, a respect
which he has forfeited in not the slightest degree.
He is president of the Minnesota State Historical Society, and while abroad with his family on various trips he
has purchased many rare and valuable old volumes, which he has presented to the society. He is a man of ripe scholarship,
of broad general information, and a deep student who has carried his researches far and wide into the fields of
knowledge. His home is noted for its hospitality, where rich and poor alike receive a hearty welcome, and throughout
the state he is held in the highest esteem.
Source: Memorial Record of SW Minnesota, Published 1897
- Submitted by Gary Boomgarden
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