This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Pendergast, Chapman, Blyberg, Fish, Oakford, R.J. Wille Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/TJB.2ACI/1287 Message Board Post: The citation for this book is: Title: History of the Upper Mississippi Valley Publisher: Minneapolis; Minnesota Historical Company, 1881 Contents: The Geology of the Upper Mississippi and Saint Louis Valleys by N.H. Winchell; Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota by Edward D. Neill; Outlines of the History of Minnesota by J. Fletcher Williams; State Education by Charles A. Bryant Page: 473 Sauk Centre Township SOLOMON PENDERGAST is a native of Barnstead, New Hamphire, and was born on the 15th of November, 1833. His early education was received in the public school of his native town, and afterwards, at Gilmanton Academy, later, he attended Guilford Academy, at Meredith Bridge. In 1850, he came to Minnesota, and after remaining two years in the vicinity of Hutchinson, went to Cincinnati, but returned to Hutchinson one year later, and in the spring of 1861, came to Sauk Centre, and has resided here ever since. First engaged in the mercantile business in company with a Mr. Fish, their store being about one a half miles from town, on the St. Cloud road, but the same fall removed within the present limits of Sauk Centre. During the Indian troubles of 1862, the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Pendergast purchasing the interest of Mr. Fish and conducting the business alone until 1875, when he sold out and engaged in the hardware business in company with Mr. Oakford. His store was ! burned in the disastrous fire of March 1870, but at once rebuilt and the business continued. R.J. Wille bought Mr. Oakford's interest in 1877, and the new firm conducted the business until January,1881, when Mr. Pendergast disposed of his mercantile interests and established the Bank of Sauk Centre, which he is now carrying on. For a number of years he had been interested in a store with O.A.E. Blyberg, at Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, and also a branch store at Audubon, Becker county, both of which were sold to Mr. Blyberg. Mr. Pendergast was united in marriage with Miss Cornelia Chapman, at Minneapolis, in 1859. They have four children, all daughters.