The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-13

IS His Home Today. ::
x..ys W. b
John Conrad Oswald, one of the few
remaining pioneers of Minneapolis died
at an early hour today at the age OF
81 Of bronchial pneumonia. About
five weeks ago Mr.. Oswald caught a
owing to his age, he was unable to
throw off in spite Of vigorous consti-
tuition, and the end came peacefully at
6 o'clock this morning. Besides live
grandchildren he is survived by his
three daughters Mrs. Theo. FASTING,
Mrs. F. M. Laraway, and Mrs. William
7. O'Brien. Due encouragement Of
later.
John Conrad Oswald had been resi-
in Minneapolis since the spring of
1857, and had been honored with posi-
tions of public trust in the city, and in
the higher branch Of the state legisla-
ture.
Born in Switzerland.
He was born in the village Of Ober-
ZACH, Canton Thurgau, Switzerland, on
May. 90, 1924. on his fathers home
stead, where three generations Of the
family had lived. He was the fifth
|
Enjoying the advantage Of the COM
mon schools Of his native canton, at
the age Of sixteen he apprenticed him
self to Godfrey Scheitlin, a manufac-
| turer Sof cotton goods and after two
years Of apprenticeship was made over-s
\ seer of the increasing business Of his
employer, which: he diligently: pursued
for the next five years. -
! In lS47 he joined the tide of emtgra-
| ti0n tn n1arica and at New York
was offered the agency Of large tract
Of wild land in West Virginia. Meet
ing the sister of his former employer,
who had likewise emigrated to Ameri-
ca, Miss Ursula Elizabeth Scheitlin, a
former attachment was revived. They
wife accompanied him to the scene Of
his labor for the next ten years. They
found the land wild and the neighbor-
hood sparsely settled, nevertheless he
opened a country store, and cleared
and cultivated a farm, and met with
fair success. During their residence
in the south five children were born to
them, Of whom hS on only one survived.
grated to the United States, and set set
tied in Minneapolis; and after ten
years residence in the south, Mr.. o.
valid sold his business and came here
Soon after his arrival in Minneapolis
Mr.. Oswald opened a store in connec
ti4on with his brother Henry, in North
bought out his brothers. interest, and
soon after took another partner, anc
continued the business at Hen'nepir
, avenue and First street, which was ex
, tensive and profitable for three years
The war having broken out derangine
business, the mercantile business was
closed. In 1862 he bought farm Of
100 acres, lying across ). Basssett =
gagged in it's cultivation. It wa
named coax Grove farm. Afte
unsuccessful experiments with tc~acct
culture, he turned his attention in {
limited way to the successful breeding
and raising Of horses.
His knowledge of wine-making in tn
:. valleys of his native land directed hi
attention to the adoption Of the fruit
: experiments he engaged in the manu-
" facture of wine upon an extensiv
9 scale, securing orders from distan
l places. The business became extensiv
t and profitable.
g About 1866 he. added to the win
e established the first wholesale wine an
i liquor business in Minneapolis. Hi
place Of business was at first the oil
stand at the corner of First street an
Hennepin avenue. Afterwards it wa
removed to the Pence operahouse block
and in 1874 he erected four-stor
}, brick store at II Washington avenu
N, with every convenience for his ez
tensive business, and the business sti
y continues under the firm name Of .
e G. Oswald & Co.
d Mr.. Oswald was charter member Q
:, the Harmonic society, social and mi
a steal society composed exclusively .
g Germans, organized many years ag'
}, He was an incorporation and director 9
d the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie
It Atlantic Railroad company and also c
r the Minneapolis & Pacific Railroa
|, company.
> Made Park Board Possible.
= At the organization of the :Minnea,
!. ~ oils park board, Mr.. Oswald was al
: pointed one of the commissioners an
from the first took a deep interest
it's success. BY the terms Of the &C
it was required to be submitted for a.
e ceptance to a vote of the people of th
n city. Opposition at once was raise
4. and some of the most influential lea,
u ers of his political party determined I
r defeat it. MI. Oswald engaged ca
e nestly in the canvass and employe
i speakers at his own expense to adv
e cate it, and the measure was passe
n largely thru his personal efforts and il
II fuence. For many years, while a men
n Der of the park board, he gave muc
It attention to its exacting and unpai
IS nifcent park system of the city We