Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 111

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 111

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Our subject was born in the parish of Contin, county of Ross, Scotland, May 12, 1854, and is a descendant of the old Highland-Scotch clan Fin- layson. He received a high-school education in his native land, after which he began work in the local freight department of the Highland Railway, at Muir-by-Ord, Scotland, as bookkeeper and cashier. After four years of this work he worked four years as cashier and bookkeeper for the Ord Distillery Company at Muir, of Ord, and gained a fine busi- ness training. He emigrated to Quebec in May, 1882, and proceeded from thence to St. Louis, Mis- souri, and after a short stay there went to Fargo, North Dakota. He worked in the harvest fields during the fall of that year, and then worked a few months for the N. P. Elevator Company, and this was followed by eight years' work as bookkeeper

MURDO A. FINLAYSON AND WIFE.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY. AND BIOGRAPHY.

and assistant general agent for the Deering Com- pany at Fargo. He took land in Ransom county in 1887, on which his wife resided two years, while he worked in Fargo. He devoted himself to the in- provement of his farm interests in 1890, and began the cultivation of his land and the raising of stock. He had purchased fifteen sheep in 1888, and now has a flock of four hundred. He also has a herd of about fifty cattle, and annually crops from five to seven hundred acres of his land.

Our subject was married, in 1888, to Miss Jane Ross, a native also of Scotland .. Mr. and Mrs. Fin- layson, of whom a portrait is shown on another page, have adopted one son, named James R. Mr. Finlayson is a member of the Presbyterian church, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. He takes an active interest in affairs of a public nature, and has served as town- ship clerk two years and director of the school board three years. He occupies a prominent position and is highly esteemed.

ADOLF R. JOSUND. As a representative citizen and a member of the farming community of township 148, range 68, in Wells county, the gentleman above named is entitled to a foremost place. He has made a success of his vocation and has a well-improved farm and has gained his pos- sessions by the exercise of honest industry and good judgment. He went to Dakota as a pioneer without means, and has worked his way steadily to the front and is now surrounded by all that goes to make country life pleasant, and is highly es- teemed in his community.

Our subject was born at Stavanger, Norway, December 20, 1863, and was a son of Rasmus Jaasund and Karen ( Stokke) Josund, both of whom were natives of Norway. The paternal grand- father, Asburnam Muglebust, was a farmer in Nor- way, as was also the maternal grandfather, Tolaf Stokke. Our subject's father is now a prosperous farmer of Wells county, where he located during pioneer days.

Mr. Josund was the second in a family of eleven children, and was raised on a farm in his native land. He emigrated to America in 1882, landing at Boston, March 3, and the family at once went to Becker county, Minnesota, and settled on forty acres of school land. The parents conducted the farm there until 1887, and our subject worked at farming and railroading and other work, and in the spring of 1886 went to Sykeston, North Dakota, and worked at farm labor during the summer and also filed a tree claim and pre-emption to land in Wells county, in township 148, range 68. His father came and filed on a tree-claim and pre- emption at the same time. The following spring the father removed to Becker county, where he worked a farm together with his father, mother and brother Rasmus for some three years. They also had with them the young sister, Clara. The 33

father had a shanty IOxIo feet, and our subject built an 8x8-foot shanty and they were later made into one house. Later in the summer our subject built a shanty, half dugout, and lived therein sev- eral winters. It was of sod and had but one small window and the roof had a few fence posts. He had a team of oxen, three cows, some young stock, a wagon and a plow, and after paying his way to North Dakota had no money left, and purchased overall clothing with a sack of oats and the first night slept on hay in the shanty. He and his father were caught away from home in one of the worst blizzards ever experienced in North Dakota, but escaped injury.

Mr. Josund began farming for himself in 1890 and he now has six hundred and forty acres of good land, whie his father has three quarter-sec- tions. He has a complete set of good farm build- ings, including a substantial house, barn, granary, machine shed, blacksmith shop, and other build- ings, and has all machinery necessary for the eco- nomical conduct of the place.

Our subject was married, in 1888, to Miss Anna Jakobene Stokke, who was born and raised in the same place in Norway as our subject. Her father died in Norway. Her mother and Mrs. Gablel Gedrose came over from Norway to Cathay, North Dakota, in 1888 with her family and live close neighbors. Mr. Gedrose has six hundred and forty acres of good land. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Josund, as follows: Camilla, born July 23, 1890; Julius, born January 12, 1892, died May 18, 1898; Marshall, born June 18, 1895; Alfred, born May 31, 1897; and Alma, born Octo- ber 12, 1899, all of whom were born in Dakota. Mr. Josund has held various school offices and is active in public affairs of local importance. He is a Republican in political faith and a delegate to all county conventions for many years. He and family are members of the Lutheran church, in which he is a leader, and is highly respected throughout the community in which he makes his home.

THOMAS R. FORBES is one of the well- known old settlers and prosperous merchants of Buford, Williams county. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on the present site of the Ryan Hotel, February 1I, 1859.

The father of our subject, Major William H. Forbes, was an associate in the mercantile business with N. W. Kittson, and was also an Indian trader. He was commissioned with General Sibley in his campaign in Dakota, and during the latter part of the Rebellion was in the commissary department of the army in Missouri. He was prominent in the Civil war and also took a prominent part in the settlement of Minnesota. He was born in Canada and was of Scotch descent. He was married in Minnesota and was the first postmaster of St. Paul. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

Amanda B. Corey, was born at Cooperstown, New York, and many of her ancestors were early settlers of this country and some served in the Revolution- ary war. Our subject was the third in nis mother's family of four children, but also had half brothers and sisters. He spent his early boyhood in the South during the Civil war, and afterward attended college at Montreal, Canada. The father died while our subject was in college and he was forced to leave school and start for himself. He worked in a wholesale house in St. Paul about five years and in 1881 went to Bismarck, North Dakota, where he worked as clerk on a steamer between Glendive and Terry's Landing, Montana, and in the fall clerked in a store in Miles City three months. He went to Fort Buford in the winter of that year, clerked in a store there four years and put the money in cattle, which he lost during ahard winter. In 1886 he assisted in the construction of the Great North- ern Railroad in different places from Williston, Dakota, to Great Falls, Montana, and again bought cattle and lost about three hundred head. In the spring of 1888 he established a ranch twelve miles from Buford in partnership with K. G. Whistler, and continued thus until 1896, when he bought the ferry boat and followed the ferry business across the Missouri river at Buford two years, and still owns and operates the boat. In the fall of 1898 he established a general store at Williston for Hedrich Brothers, and he conducts the business as general manager. They carry a complete line of general merchandise, machinery, etc., and under the guid- ance of Mr. Forbes the business steadily increases.

Our subject was married, in 1898, to Miss Julia Lunde, a native of Iowa. Her father was a native of Norway. Mrs. Forbes was a dressmaker by trade and followed the business several years. She was also an instructor in the Indian schools, and a lady of rare attainments and excellent edu- cation. Our subject is a member of the Sons of Veterans and Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a Democrat.

ERICK ERICKSON. Among the younger members of the farming community of township 145, range 66, in Foster county, this gentleman is entitled to special mention. He has resided in the county comparatively few years, but has developed one of the best farms in the locality, and is among the substantial men, and is highly esteemed for his honest industry and good citizenship.

Our subject was born in Racine county, Wis- consin, in 1865, and was the third in a family of seven children born to Erick and Cornelia ( Nelson) Erickson. His father came to America from Nor- way in 1862, and was a farmer by occupation. The family settled in Michigan when our subject was two years of age, and he was raised on a farm in that state and received little schooling. He was put to work early in life, and lived in the back woods of Michigan, and at the age of twenty-four

years he went to Logan county, North Dakota, and took government land near Napoleon, in 1889. He erected a sod shanty, 12×16 feet, and had noth- ing with which to begin his farming. He broke some land and lived alone on the farm for several years, and in 1891 began farming with oxen and used them in his work three seasons. His first crop was a failure and the second and third proved a little better than none, and in 1894 his crop was good but was destroyed by prairie fires, together with one of his best horses. He remained in Lo- gan county until the spring of 1895, when he re- moved to Foster county and purchased the east half of section I, in township 145, range 66. He had about five horses and some farm machinery when he began farming on his present land, and has engaged successfully in grain and horse raising. He lost his entire crop by hail in 1897. He now has a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and he and a partner, P. J. Carr, operate eight hundred and ninety acres of land. His home farm is fully equipped with good arm buildings and all necessary machinery. During the past two sea- sons, with Mr. Carr, he has owned and operated a twenty-five-horse-power steam threshing rig.

Mr. Erickson devotes the greater part of his time and attention to his farm work, but is inter- ested in the welfare of his community and in polit- ical sentiment adheres to the principles of the Re- publican party.

JOSEPH B. AKESSON. The lands beyond the sea have sent their full quota of energetic and industrious men to Cass county, North Dakota, and many have won honorable stations as citizens, farmers and business men. Of this class is the subject of this brief life history. Mr. Akesson came to America when a young man, and has suc- cessfully followed agricultural pursuits in North Dakota, and is one of the substantial and worthy citizens of Bell township, where he has resided for many years. He has a fine farm and enjoys a comfortable competence.

Our subject was born in the southern part of Sweden, May 26, 1856. His parents, Ake Josephs- son and Bengta (Nelson) Akesson, were natives of Sweden, and lived and died there, and his father was a farmer by occupation. Our subject had three brothers and two sisters, and one brother now re- sides in the United States.

Mr. Akesson was reared and educated in his native land and remained there until about fifteen years of age, when he came to the United States and located in Minnesota. He remained there until 1878, when he went to Fargo, North Dakota, and was employed on the Red river boats as engineer, after having spent one year in the shops at St. Paul, Minnesota. He went to Bell township, Cass county, in 1881, and purchased the farm where he now resides. The land was all wild land at the time and had little improvements thereon, and he

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

has made his home there since that date and has succeeded in bringing the land to a high state of cultivation, and is now the owner of one section, all of which is tillable.

Our subject was married, February 15, 1899, to Annie C. Hanson, a native of Minnesota. Mr. Akesson has filled various local offices, including supervisor and school treasurer, and is actively interested in the welfare of his adopted land. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity and the Foresters, and in political sentiment is inde- pendent. He has visited his native land twice since taking up his residence in America.

VIDALIN CONGREGATION OF EVAN- GELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, of Akra, Pembina county, was established in 1886 by Rev. F. J. Bergmann, and was the pioneer congregation of central Pembina county. Rev. Jonas A. Sigurds- son is the present pastor, and the church is now in a flourishing condition financially and steadily in- creases in membership.

Vidalin congregation was divided and sub- divided and finally almost ceased existence until 1893, when Rev. Sigurdsson was sent there as pas- tor, and under his guidence the interest has con- tinually increased and the congregation now con- sists of about one hundred families.

JONAS A. SIGURDSSON was born in Iceland, May 6, 1865, and was the oldest in a family of four children born to Sigurden and Gudrun (Jonas- son) Sigurdsson. The family is from an old Norse family and the father of our subject was a farmer by occupation. Our subject was given a good edu- cation with private tutors for three years and grad- uated from the Agricultural College and remained at home until about twenty-two years of age. He then emigrated to America to further his education, and went to Hamilton, Pembina county, North Dakota, in 1887, and there began at farm work and attended the English schools. He entered the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary at Chicago in 1890, and graduated with the class of 1893, and a portion of the last year was spent in practical work in Pembina county. He was or- dained a minister June 25, 1893, and at once as- sumed charge of Vidalin church and congregation at Pembina. Five congregations are now under his charge, including Vadalin congregation, with a church building ; Pembina congregation, consisting of fifty families, and a church building erected under the management of our subject ; Hallson con- gregation, established by our subject in 1894, and has thirty-five families and a church building erected in 1899; Peter's congregation in Akra township, Pembina county, organized in 1893, and has about sixty families and a church building ; and Grafton congregation at Grafton, North Da- kota. From fifteen to sixteen hundred communi- cants are in church and all the various congrega- tions are on a firm financial standing, and the work

is progressing most satisfactorily. Mr. Siguards- son is interested heartily in his work and is beloved by his people.

Our subject was married, in 1890, to Miss Oddrun Frimann. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sigurdson, named as follows : Torfi, Jonas and Haraldur. Mr. Sigurdsson is a strong temperance worker, and is a leader of re- form in that line.

MENZO W. PORTER. As a representative farmer and citizen of Bell township, Cass county, the name of Mr. Porter may well be mentioned. He has devoted his entire attention to the cultivation and operation of his farm since taking up his resi- dence in North Dakota over fifteen years ago, and now has one of the best farms of his vicinity. He is energetic and industrious and occupies a high position in the minds of the people.

Our subject was born in Madison county, New York, February 26, 1827. His parents, Roswell and Nancy ( Shattuck) Porter, were natives of Con- necticut. His father was a carpenter and joiner, and settled at Hamilton, Madison county, New York, where he spent his career and died April 7. 1853. He served in the war of 1812 with the rank of lieutenant. . The grandfather of our subject, El- eazer Porter, was a native of Connecticut, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and passed the last of his years in New York state.

Our subject was one of a family of seven chil- dren, three sons and four daughters, and is the only one of the number in North Dakota. He was reared and educated in New York and began his career as a farmer, which he followed in that state until 1853, when he removed to Boone county, Illinois, and pur- chased land and made his home there until 1863, and then moved to Pennsylvania, and located near Oil City, and was engaged in the oil business there. He resided in Pennsylvania until 1883 and then went to North Dakota, and settled in Bell township, Cass county, and opened up a new farm. He has made his home there continuously since that date, and has met with success in general farming.

Our subject was married, in 1846, to Mariah A. Muir, a native of New York. Mrs. Porter died August 28, 1891, leaving three sons and one daugh- ter, as follows: De Elbert, De Azro and De Elwin and Alice E., now Mrs. E. H. Austin. Mr. Porter assisted in the organization of his township and has served in various local offices. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in political faith is in- dependent.

GEORGE YOUNG, a successful and well-to-do farmer of township 145. range 62, Foster county, is one of the old settlers of that region, and his farm is one of the well improved estates of his vicinity, and ·has been acqured by persistent efforts and hon- est industry.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

Our subject was born on a farmi in Queen county, Ireland, November 24, 1852. His father, John Young, was a farmer throughout his career, and lived and died in his native land. His ancestors came to Ireland with King William the Conqueror,, as his soldiers, as did also the ancestors on the mother's side. The mother of our subject bore. the maiden name of Helen Wallace, and was a native of Ireland.

Mr. Young was the fourth in a family of thir- teen children, and was raised on the farm and at- tended the common school and assisted with the farm work. At the age of eighteen years lie accepted a position as warden in a prison in Ireland and was there six months, when he resigned and remained at home on the farm about a year and a half, and in 1882 emigrated to Canada, landing at Quebec. He worked on a farm near Toronto and also in the city for about eight months, and in the fall of that year went to Duluth, Minnesota, where he railroaded on the Canadian Portage & Superior Railroad three months and then went to Montana and spent four months in working for the Northern Pacific Rail- road. He went to Fargo, North Dakota, in July, 1883, and worked on a farm, and in the spring of 1884 went to Foster county. He entered claim to government land in township 145, range 62, and built a small shanty and hired some land broken and worked for others for the next seven years, hiring some work done on his own place each season. He worked in different parts of Foster and Stutsman counties, and has driven oxen many days, and lived alone, and experienced pioneer life. He began farming for himself in 1893 and had a team of horses, wagon and a little machinery, and his crop was forty acres of wheat and fifteen acres of oats, which returned a good yield. He now has a farmi of six hundred and forty acres, with five hundred acres under cultivation, and on his home farm has a complete set of farm buildings of modern finish and design and substantial in every particular, including residence, barn, five granaries, and has all necessary farm machinery, and two four-horse teams, and one driving horse, and has a few cattle, and taken alto- gether his farm is one of the best improved in the neighborhood, and he is regarded as one of the solid men of Foster county.

Mr. Young is a member of the Episcopal church, and is a man of exemplary character and highly es- teemed throughout his community. Politically he is a Democrat, and is strong in his convictions, but does not seek public office, devoting his attention wholly to the conduct of his estate, and well merits his success and high standing.

ADOLPH F. ITRICH. As one of the early settlers of New Salem, North Dakota, who went to that thriving town as one of the German colonists, the gentleman above named takes a foremost place. He has prospered in his business affairs, and is now proprietor of an extensive harness store there, and

also conducts a saloon, and has a good farm near the town.

Our subject was born in Prussia, in 1854. His father owned a store and saloon in Germany, and came to America about 1874. Our subject was reared near Danzig, and attended the city schools, and in 1868 began to learn the harness and uphol- stering business and spent three years as an appren- tice. He went into the army at the age of twenty years, and served three years and was an officer in the service. He came to America in 1878, and landed at New York, and from there went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and there followed his trade five years. He joined a colony for settlement at New Salem in 1883 and upon his arrival there did any work which fell to his lot to earn an honest dollar, and in 1884, entered a home- stead claim to land, whereon he built a shanty and continued farming until 1889. In that year he started his farm and a small harness shop in New Salem, and he has increased the business, and now occupies a good sized building, 16x48 feet, with an addition 9x24 feet which is used for a barber shop. He started a saloon in 1895, and the same year bought a square of land, 300x400 feet, in partnership with his father and erected a residence thereon, and the store building, residence and farmi are all now cleared of indebtedness, and Mr. Itrich has funds at interest. He has a complete stock of harness amounting to one thousand two hundred dollars, and does a good business in that line.

Our subject was married, in 1880, to Miss Car- rie Kranish. Mrs. Itrich was born in Milwaukee, and her father, Fred Kranish, was a shoemaker and shoe dealer in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and was of German birth. Mrs. Itrich died from the effects of a burn February 8, 1899. Mr. Itrich and daughter Elsie, were badly burned in attempting to save the mother's life. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Itrich, who are named as follows: Ida, Elsie, Max, Edwin, Waldemar, Selma and Adolph A. Mr. Itrich is treasurer of the village, and treas- urer of the town hall association, and president of the school board, and has taken an active part in local affairs. He holds membership in the German Mu- tual Benefit Association, and politically is a Repub- lican and prominent in party matters.

JAMES ALBEE CHESLEY, a pioneer busi- ness man of Fargo, successfully engaged in the lum- ber trade, was born at Mancton, New Brunswick, Canada, January 24, 1851, and is a son of Robert A. and H. Elizabeth (Albee) Chesley, natives of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, respectively .. The father, who was a Methodist Episcopal minister, spent his entire life in Canada, as did also the grand- father, Samuel Chesley, who was a farmer of Nova Scotia. The great-grandfather, Samuel Chesley, Sr., was born in New Hampshire and removed to Nova Scotia in 1758.

Our subject was reared in Nova Scotia, and af-

JAMES A. CHESLEY.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

ter attending the common schools for some years became a student in Mount Allison College. In 1869 he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where for ten years he was employed as bookkeeper by the lumber firm of Farnham & Lovejoy. Coming to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1879, he opened a lumber yard of his own. Later Frank L. Lovejoy was in- terested in the business for a few years, but since 1886 Mr. Chesley has been alone in business. By fair and honorable dealing he has built up an excel- lent trade, and is now the oldest retail lumber dealer in the city. He is also president of the North Da- kota Anchor Fence Company, which was organized in 1897, and is interested in farming to some ex- tent. In business affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable, and commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. Socially he is a Mason and politically a Republican, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. A portrait of Mr. Chesley appears on another page.

In 1876 was celebrated, in Minneapolis, Minne- sota, the marriage of Mr. Chesley and Miss Emma F. Jones, a native of Maine, and daughter of W. E. and Mary J. (Adams) Jones, and to them have been born four children, namely: Mary E., Eva J., Julia A. and Samuel L., all living.

JOHN BRANDENBURG, the pioneer mer- chant of Arthur, Cass county, is a gentleman of ability and true citizenship. He has been useful in promoting the financial and social growth of that section of the country, and is enjoying an ex- tensive patronage and the confidence of the people among whom he resides.

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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 111

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