Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 106

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago, G.A.Ogle
Number of Pages: 1432

USA > North Dakota > Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life > Part 106

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Our subject was married, in 1893, to Miss Bes- sie Rose. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Laxdal, named as follows: Mabel, and Fred-

rick Eggert. Mr. Laxdal was appointed land com- missioner for the state of North Dakota in 1899, and now serves in that capacity. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Lutheran church. Politically he is a Republican and served ten years as secretary of the county central committee.

G. W. DAKIN, who enjoys the distinction of being one of the earliest settlers of Lake township, Cass county, is a gentleman of excellent character- istics and has accumulated a comfortable compe- tence since taking up his residence there, by dint of his own efforts. He has a well developed farm and is among the substantial citizens of that region.

Our subject was born in Digbee county, Nova Scotia, November 23, 1850. His parents, John and Weltha A. (Tucker) Dakin, were natives of Nova Scotia, and passed their lives there. The father was a shipbuilder and farmer. They had four sons and two daughters, and our subject has one brother in the United States.

Mr. Dakin was reared and educated in Nova Scotia and remained there until 1881 and then went directly to North Dakota. He entered a homestead claim to land in section 12 of Lake township, and was among the first settlers of the township, and drew the first load of lumber into Page. He has followed farming there since and is now the owner of a half-section of tillable land which gives an ample competence.

Our subject was married, May 11, 1874, to Augusta Small, a native of Nova Scotia. Mr. and Mrs. Dakin are the parents of two children, named as follows: Nellie B. and Albert G. Mr. Dakin assisted in the organization of Lake township and served as assessor, and a member of the town board and in other local offices, and is widely known for his active public spirit. He is a Republican in political sentiment and strong in his convctions. He has made a success of his calling and is deservedly popular with those among whom he has resided for nearly twenty years.

JOHN MONTGOMERY. As an all around prominent man of Harvey, Wells county, there is probably no one of its citizens who more justly deserves the title than Mr. Montgomery. He is one of the leading business men of the town and is well and favorably known for his active public spirit and good citizenship.

Our subject was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1863. His father, William Montgomery, came to America with his family in 1867 and settled on a farm in Ontario, Canada, and resided there seven- teen years.

Our subject was the second in a family of seven children and was raised on the home farm in Canada and attended the common schools. He left home at the age of sixteen years and worked at farm

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labor and stock raising in Ontario and in 1885 went to Melville, North Dakota, and there worked a farmi on shares. He and his brother, sister, and father went to Wells county in 1886 and entered claim to land three miles east of Harvey. Their nearest neighbor at the time and for one year thereafter was eleven miles away. They built a frame house and a sod barn and began farming and our subject continued on the farm until 1894 and met with good success. He established the first meat business in Harvey in 1894 and in 1898 sold his farm near the town, and now conducts the meat business ex- clusively. He started in a building 12x26 feet and had limited means, and now occupies a main build- ing 34x32 feet, with sausage room and boiler room 16x24 feet, an ice house 16x32 feet, storage house 14x16 feet, and a slaughter house and smoke house, and enjoys a good business. He was one of the first settlers in the vicinity of Harvey and his shanty was the ony one within eleven miles. He has watched the growth of the country and taken part in its development and advancement.

Our subject was married, in 1892, to Miss A. G. Mackie, a native of Canada, who was of Scotch descent. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, named Lillah. Mr. Montgomery was elected county commissioner in 1894 and served one term and has been chairman of the township board one year. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of the Mac- cabees. Politically he is a Republican.

EDWARD C. BAUMGARDNER. The call- ing to which this gentleman has devoted his career is one which calls for the exercise of good judgment, close observation and persistent efforts to insure suc- cess. Mr. Baumgardner is one of the well-to-do farmers of Cass county, and his home in Rochester township is among the pleasantest places in the county. He has gained his possessions single- handed, and is highly respected for his excellent characteristics.

Our subject is a native of Carbon county, Penn- sylvania, and was born July 24, 1856. His parents, Mathais and Fredericka (Fritz) Baumgardner, were natives of Germany, and his father was a miller by trade, and also followed farming. He emigrated to America in 1854, and located in Carbon county, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Erie county, that state, where he died in 1889. The mother survives and makes her home in Pennsylvania. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters, and our subject is the only member of the family to lo- cate in North Dakota.

Mr. Baumgardner was reared in Pennsylvania and received his education there, and remained in that state engaged in farming until 1875, when he removed to Ohio and resided there until 1882. He then went to Cass county, North Dakota, and en- tered a homestead claim to land in section 22, of Rochester township, and was among the first set-

tlers of that locality. He has held continuous resi- dence there, and is now the owner of one section of choice land. He has added valuable improvements, including a complete set of substantial farm build- ings, and is one of the solid men of the county.

Our subject was married in Fargo, North Da- kota, December 5, 1883, to Elizabeth Kimball. Mrs. Baumgardner was born near Syracuse, New York, and was a daughter of Addison and Anna ( Bailey ) Kimball, who were pioneer settlers of the state of New York. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baumgardner, as follows: Iva A., Carl A. and Fredericka, all of whom are living. Mr. Baumgardner assisted in the organization of his township, and has served as assessor for the past nine years, and has also served on the township and school boards. He is a member of the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen, and in political sentiment is a Republican.

JOHN YOUNG, one of the earliest settlers of . La Moure county, and a representative man of his locality, is successfully engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, and has vast tracts of land which he has fully improved and cultivates. He resides on sec- tion 33, in township 134, range 62, and his hand- some residence is a substantial brick structure and the finest in the county, and one of the few brick dwellings in the state. He has experienced the pri- vations of a pioneer settler, and can recount with unerring accuracy the early history of that region. He is highly esteemed as an energetic citizen who labors for the better interests of his community.

Our subject was born in the small village of Reed's Landing, Wabasha county, Minnesota, Jan- uary 25, 1863, and was a son of Frederick Young. His father was a native of Germany, and emigrated to America when a young man, and for a number of years ran a keel boat on the Mississippi and Chip- pewa rivers, prior to the railroads making their ap- pearance in that locality.

When a child about three years of age our sub- ject went to Wisconsin with his parents, where they resided many years and where our subject grew to manhood. In the latter part of the 'zos he returned to his native state and remained a short time, and in 1880 went to North Dakota, then a teritory. He first lived in the vicinity of Grand Forks, and June 2, 1881, went to Grand Rapids, La Moure county, then the only town in the county; but it was not until 1883 that Mr. Young filed claim to the land on which he located, at Medbury Station. He has added to his possessions from time to time, and is now the owner of sixteen hundred acres of land, and he personally supervises the work of cultivat- ing the same. He owns and operates a threshing machine, and has steadily progressed with the work, and is considered one of the best business men of the locality. His residence is near the station of Berlin, and he has every convenience of a model farm. There were but thirteen persons in the coun-

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ty when he located there, and wild game was plen- tiful. Great herds of antelope and deer were fre- quently seen, and an occasional buffalo.

Mr. Young returned to Minnesota in 1891, and was married to Miss Rachel Zimmerman, a native of that state. Mrs. Young's parents, Casper and Elspath Zimmerman, were natives of Switzerland, and were farmers by occupation. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Young, as follows : Irene R., who died aged eight months : George H., Charles F. and Milton R. Mr. Young takes an act- ive part in public affairs, and has been township treasurer seven years, and has also acted as school director at different times.

JAMES BURR ANDREWS, residing on sec- tion 26, in Rochester township, is one of the lead- ing farmers of Cass county, wherein he is a large land owner. He operates four sections of choice land, and his home farm is equipped with the usual · adjuncts of a model farm, and in every particular furnishes a home of comfort and even luxury. He is one of the pioneer settlers of North Dakota, and has been a potent factor in the development of the agricultural resources of that state, and is widely and favorably known.

Our subject was born in Lee county, Iowa, Oc- tober 30, 1861, and was the only son born to Hiram and Harriet ( Fatterly) Andrews, both of whom were natives of New York. His father was a car- penter by trade, and settled in Iowa in 1859, where he spent the remainder of his life, and the mother survives him and makes her home with our subject. Our subject has one sister.

Mr. Andrews was reared in Iowa and New York, and received a good education and began his business career as a clerk. He went to Cass county in 1881, and, after some time spent in Tower City, went to Barnes county, where he entered claim to land. He went to Cass county in 1803, and has re- sided in Rochester township since that date. His farm comprises four sections, and he is one of the well-to-do men of his locality.

Our subject was married in Illinois, in 1899, to Kittie Shure, a native of Illinois. Mr. Andrews is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men, and is a young man of excellent characteristics, and well merits his position as a worthy citizen. He has filled some local offices, but does not take an active part in political affairs, and never sought pub- lic preferment.

PETER DONAHOE is one of the enterprising and industrious agriculturists of Cass county, and has a pleasant home and fine farm on section 10 of Tower township. He is one of the early settlers of that region, and has been a material aid in its devel- opment and the extending of its agricultural inter- ests, and is widely known and highly respected.

Our subject was born in Toronto, Canada, March

29, 1831, and was a son of Bernard and Ellen (Flinn) Donahoe, both of whom were natives of Kings county, Ireland. They emigrated to Amer- ica in 1830, and died in Canada. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters, of whom three sons are now in the United States, one in Arizona and two in North Dakota.

Mr. Donahoe was reared in Canada and fol- lowed farming there until 1880, when he went to Cass county and entered claim to land in section 10, of Tower township, as a homestead, where he still resides. He is the owner of a half-section of choice land, all of which is under cultivation and is made to yield abundantly, furnishing a comfortable com- petence.

Our subject was married in Canada, in 1855, to Elizabeth Kenney, a native of Canada. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Donahoe, as follows: Ellen, now Mrs. McArthur; Annie, now Mrs. Dickinson; Joseph; Mary J., now Mrs. Somerville, of Canada; Edward; Laura, now Mrs. Batchelor ; Francis, deceased, and Peter. The fam- ily are members of the Catholic church, and are highly esteemed in the community in which they reside. Mr. Donahoe is a man who keeps pace with the times, and in political sentiment is independent.

F. H. PIERCE, whose home is on section 18, Pierce township, is a worthy representative of the farming interests of Barnes county, and is one of its honored pioneers. He has watched the develop- ment of the resources of the state with the inter- est which every intelligent man feels in regard to the section of country where he has spent the best years of his life, and should feel a satisfaction in the thought that he has been no unimportant factor in bringing it to its present condition. He experi- enced all the trials and difficulties of frontier life. and erected the first claim shanty erected in Pierce, the township deriving its name from the first settler, but is now enjoying the reward of his laborers and struggles in the possession of a fine homestead of four hundred and eighty acres.

A native of Indiana, Mr. Pierce was born in LaGrange county, December 22, 1856, and is a son of E. C. and Christiana ( Raber) Pierce, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. The mother died when our subject was about twelve years of age, but the father is still living and makes his home in Noble county, Indiana. He has always followed the vocation of farming and has been very successful in his life work.

During his boyhood our subject accompanied his parents on their removal to Noble county, Indiana, and in the district schools of that state he secured a good, practical education. He continued to as- sist his father in the labors of the home farm until Mar:h, 1881, at which he started for the great North- west with the hope of making for himself a home on the boundless prairies of this state. He traveled the entire distance alone, and on reaching Barnes

F. H. PIERCE AND FAMILY.

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county took up a homestead where he now lives. He has since added to it a half-section of land, mak- ing a total of four hundred and eighty acres, which he has improved with good and substantial build- ings.

Returning to his native state, Mr. Pierce was there married, in 1886, to Miss Florence Selby, the ceremony being performed at the home of the bride, on a farm in LaGrange county. She was born in Ohio, April 23, 1853, and is a daughter of Luke and Mary Selby, who are now living retired in La Grange county. For fourteen years the father was engaged in mercantile business in Ashland, Ohio, and as he met with excellent success he is now the possessor of a comfortable competence which en- ables him to lay aside all business cares. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have one child, Bella, a very promis- ing girl, who is the sunshine of their home. A fam- ily group portrait appears in connection with this biography.

In political sentiment our subject is a Republi- can, and he has been called upon to fill a number of minor offices, and is at present a member of the township board of supervisors.

AXTLE JOHNSON stands among the fore- most agriculturists of Eddy county, and is conduct- ing general farming on an extensive plan with un- bounded success. He was one of the pioneer set- tlers of North Dakota, and has experienced the dis- couragements which beset the early settlers of a country ; but he has steadily gone forward with an indomitable will, and his energetic spirit and honest industry have brought him a fine estate and an envi- able reputation.

Our subject was born 'in Porter county, Indi- ana, on a farm, December 29, 1853. His father, Andrew P. Johnson, was born in Sweden, and came to America when about eight years of age, and fol- lowed farming throughout his career, and now re- sides in Kansas. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Annie Robertson, was born near Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Johnson was raised on a farm in Indiana, and attended the common schools, and when he was thirteen years of age the family removed to Henry county, Illinois, and when seventeen years of age our subject completed his education at Galesburg high school, in Illinois, after which he went to Colorado and engaged in gold and silver mining till 1878, when he went to California, and from thence to South America, where he prospected for gold and silver. He returned to San Francisco, California, in 1879, and then went to Leadville, Colorado, and followed mining there two years, and then went to Idaho. He went to North Dakota in 1883 and set- tled in township 148, range 66, in Eddy county, and entered claim to government land. He had a team of mules, wagon, harness and fifteen dollars in money, and built a shanty 8x10 feet, with a board door on leather hinges, and had but just started his

farming when a storm swept away the roof and sides of the shanty, leaving our subject standing on the floor without shelter. His wagon and box were broken also, and his sod stable had the roof taken off. Mr. Johnson lived alone, and broke land for others the first year, around Valley City. He plowed one hundred acres of land the first year, aside from breaking some land on his own place. He built a second shanty on his farm, and his first crop was on forty acres of his own land and thirty- five acres of rented land, and was a good yield. He added to his possessions as circumstances would per- mit, and became the owner of one thousand four hundred and forty acres of land, which he sold in 1897, together with the improvements thereon, for fourteen thousand dollars, and removed to Minne- apdlis. He remained there but a few months, and then returned to North Dakota and purchased land and erected good buildings thereon, and is now the owner of sixteen hundred acres of well-improved land, and cultivates about fourteen hundred acres. He is interested to some extent in stock raising, and keeps the Durhant cattle, but follows grain raising to a greater extent. He has eighteen head of horses and all necessary machinery, including a fourteen- horse-power threshing machine, and has a well- equipped and pleasant farm. He has planted five thousand trees on the place, and it is an excellent estate.

Our subject was married, in 1893, to Miss An- geline Hulbert. Mrs. Johnson was born in New York and resided there till eleven years of age, when she removed to North Dakota, where she has since lived. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson: Ella, born February 27, 1894, and Percy, born July 1, 1896. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Brother- hood of American Yeomen. Politically, he is a Democrat.

GEORGE W. ORANGE, one of the prosperous farmers of Stutsman county, is a pioneer settler of that region, and his farm of eight hundred and twenty acres has been acquired by careful manage- ment and persistent efforts. He resides in Spirit- wood, and is one of the active and well-known citi- zens of his community.

Our subject was born in McLean county, Illi- nois, in 1847. His father, William Orange, was born in Ohio and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He emigrated to Illinois, when seventeen years of age, where he followed teaming and farming. When Chicago was but a small village he teamed from there to Bloomington. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, where his family joined him nine years later, but returned again to Illinois in 1870. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania, and was a blacksmith and farmer. The mother of our subject, who bore the name of Catherin Arbogast, was born in Ohio,

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was of German descent, and was the daughter of Henry Arbogast.

Mr. Orange was married, at the age of twenty- five, to Miss Mary Morain, who was born and reared in McLean county, Illinois. Mrs. Orange died April 11, 1881, leaving three children: Albert L., Rob- ert L. and Guy D. Mr. Orange was again married, in 1883, to Miss Eva McMullen. Mrs. Orange was born in Pennsylvania, but was at the time teaching in Illinois. Mr. Orange has one child, Nellie, by his second wife. Mr. Orange went to Dakota in 1882 and purchased a quarter-section of railroad land. He began farming in the spring of 1883, and the following year took up a homestead. He now has over six hundred acres of his land under culti- vation. In 1893 he purchased a steam threshing machine, with which he has threshed each fall. The engine of the outfit exploded September 17, 1897, instantly killing the engineer, Robert L. Orange, the fireman, Fred Sisson, and the tankman, David H. Orange, the only brother of G. W. Orange. During the blizzard of 1888, our subject, wife and son Guy were exposed to the storm twenty hours. and were kept alive only by the greatest efforts. Mr. Orange is a Republican in political faith, and is well known as a public-spirited citizen and energetic man.

EDWARD E. STAFFORD. A prominent po- sition among farmers and early settlers of Cass county is accorded this gentleman. He resided in Ayr township many years but is now proprietor of a fine farm in Cornell township and is well and favorably known.

Our subject was born in Onondaga county, New York, October 28, 1850. His parents, Waldin M. and Laura E. (Smith) Stafford, were natives of New York. His father was a cooper by trade and also operated a saw-mill and went to Wiscon- sin in 1855 where he followed farming until 1884 and then removed to North Dakota, and now resides in that state. He served in Company K, Forty-sec- ond Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil war, and did guard duty in Illinois. Our subject has six brothers and one sister, and two of his brothers are now living Cass county, North Dakota.

Mr. Stafford was raised in Wisconsin and en- gaged in farming there until 1881, when he went to Cass county, North Dakota, and entered a home- stead claim to land in section 6 of Ayr township, becoming one of the first settlers of that locality. He resided on a farm in Ayr township until 1896 and then removed to his present home in Cornell town- ship, purchasing the south half of section 22. He has a pleasant and well improved farm and is one of the substantial men of his community.

Our subject was married, in 1879, to Malissa Hosford, who died in 1885, leaving one son, Sey- mour E. Mr. Stafford was married to Mary Pres- ton, a native of Fox Lake, Wisconsin, in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford are the parents of three children,

named as follows : Donnibel, Edward L. and Philip. Mr. Stafford served on the town board in Ayr town ship and for the past four years has been chair- man of the board in Cornell township. He is a gentleman of energetic character and his public spirit has never been called in question. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Ancient Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is affiliated with the Republican party.

OTTO H. GRAUPMANN, one of the earliest ·settlers of Wells county, is proprietor of as fine a farm as can be found within the limits of the county and his home is in township 147, range 72. He con- ducts general farming extensively and in company with his father owns one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of land, of which he now has charge, his father having retired from active pursuits.

Our subject was born on a farm near Fond du Lạc, in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, December 18, 1864. His father, Frederick Graupmann, was born in the southern part of Germany and came to America in 1854 and was married in this country. He was an early settler of Wisconsin, and also became in after years an early settler of North Dakota. He served one year in Company A, Forty- fifth Wisconsin, till the close of the war and followed farming in Wisconsin until taking up his residence in North Dakota. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary Storm, was born in Ger- many and came to America in 1856.

Mr. Graupman was raised on the Wisconsin farm and attended school in a log cabin and re- ceived the greater ,part of his schooling there. He left home at the age of eighteen years and went to Wells county, North Dakota, in 1884, and worked at teaming and freighting from Sykeston to Pony Gulch for two years, and during the summer nights camped on the road and in winter lived in a tar- papered shanty at the head of the Jim river and hunted and trapped the wolf, fox, mink, antel- ope and deer. In 1886 he took government land in township 147, range 72, in section 24, and built a claim shanty, and he and his father who had pre- viously gone to Wells county, started in partnership in farming. In 1885 he raised a crop on sod ground and the following season cropped his own land, but the crop was eaten by gophers. He hauled sup- plies from Carrington, thirty-five miles, or James- town, sixty miles, and experienced pioneer life dur- ing these trips. About half of their farm is under cultivation and one hundred and sixty acres is de- voted to pasture. The house is commodious and substantial and the barn is one of the largest in the township. All other buildings on the farm are in proportion and the entire farm is well improved and carefully managed. The father retired from active labors in 1890, since which time our subject has had full control of the place and has made a success of his work.

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Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 106

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago, G.A.Ogle Number of Pages: 1432

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago, G.A.Ogle
Number of Pages: 1432