Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 119

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 119

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Our subject was the youngest in a family of four children and was raised and educated in the village schools and at the age of eighteen was apprenticed to learn the wagonmaker's trade and spent three years at his apprenticeship with Andrew Luman, who had the reputation of turning out the best work in the county. He was a blacksmith also, and one of the best to be found and after three years our subject became proficient in the same business and worked with Mr. Luman two years more. He then established a shop for himself in New York Mills, in 1879, and operated the same there five years and in 1883 disposed of the same and went to North Dakota. He settled at Steele the same year and built a small shop and also took govern- ment land and erected a claim shanty on the same and resided thereon until he proved his claim. The farm, and also lots which he bought in Steele, de- clined in value soon afterward and he realized little or nothing from his purchase and it was not until 1891 that prosperity attended him. He has since

sold his farming interests and devotes his entire attention to his business in Steele and has one of the best and largest repair shops in the state. He does general repairing aside from building several wagons each year, which bring top prices, because of their superiority. He now has a large plant, fitted with a gasoline engine, band and circular saws, emery wheels and turning lathes and employs two mechanics. He has personally fitted the shop with machinery and shafting and all is in perfect running order. His work extends over all Kidder and part of adjoining counties and he enjoys an extensive patronage.

Our subject was married, in 1883, in his native state, to Miss Emma Higby, a native of North Bay, Oneida county, New York. Mrs. Smith's father was a merchant and owned several boats on the Erie canal. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, named as follows: Hoton, Nellie, George and Addie, all of whom were born in North Dakota. Mr. Smith is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. Politically, he is in- dependent and is active in public affairs and has held numerous local offices.

HARRISON WILSON, an energetic and enter- prising farmer living on section 4, township 141, range 58 west, was born in Franklin county, New York, September 18, 1852, and on the paternal side comes of good old Revolutionary stock, his grand- mother having had two brothers who fought for American independence, and were killed in the bat- tle of Plattsburg, New York. He is also a direct descendant of the Wilson who came to this country in the Mayflower. His father, Asa Wilson, a farmer by occupation, was born in Vermont, in 1800, and died on the old homestead in the Empire state at the age of seventy-five years, while his mother, who bore the maiden name of Saphrona Corey, was born in New Hampshire, in 1805, and died in New York, at the age of sixty-one.

Our subject was reared in much the usual man- ner of farmer boys of his day, attending the local schools, and assisting in the labors of the farm until sixteen years of age. He then traveled for a time in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont after which he returned home and remained under the parental roof for two years. Deciding to try his fortune in the West, he accordingly went to Ber- lin, Wisconsin, and later to Amboy, Illinois, where he remained for six months. He then made a trip. to St. Joseph, Michigan, and worked in a sawmill at that place for a short time. Subsequently he re- turned to Berlin, Wisconsin, and from there went to Linn county, Iowa, where he lived for three years. on a farm near Center Point. His next home was in Cass county, that state, where he worked for two summers, and at the end of the second season re- turned to Linn county, from which place he left for with a drove of horses in 1879. He located at Wil- mer and remained there about a year. In 1880 he

MR. AND MRS. HARRISON WILSON.

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he came to Barnes county, North Dakota, and took up a pre-emption on the northwest quarter of section 4, township 141, range 58 west, but operated rented land for four years. Since then he has given his entire time and attention to the cultivation and im- provement of his own farm, and now owns the east half of section 4, and the northwest quarter of sec- tion 2, the same township, which he has transformed into one of the most desirable farms of its size in the township.

At Morris, Clinton county, New York, in 1886, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wilson and Miss Ida M. Ney, who was born there October 23, 1850, a daughter of Robert and Martha Ney. They now have one son, Benjamin, born October 9, 1888. A portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson is shown on another page. In his political affiliations Mr. Wilson is a Republican, but devotes very little time to politics. He has served as director on the school board, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

JOHN PAUL NOACK. The farming com- munity of township 148 range 66, Eddy county, has a worthy representative in the person of Mr. Noack. He has gathered about him a well-im- proved property and has gained his possessions single-handed and is one of the highly-respected men of his community.

Our subject was born in Brandenberg, Germany, in 1863, and was the youngest in a family of four children born to Alfred and Annie Noack. His father was a teacher throughout his career. When thirteen years of age our subject left home and at- tended school in Dresden and later worked as an apprentice at the mechanic's trade, and in 1883 came to America. He went direct from New York to North Dakota and worked in Cooperstown, and in the fall of that year went to Minneapolis and later went to Montana, where he was employed some time, returning to North Dakota. He worked at Cooperstown and in 1885 located in Eddy county and took government land as a pre-emption, on which he built a claim shanty and lived therein alone till 1893. He began his farm work with a yoke of cattle and followed farming with oxen till 1888, when he took a tree claim and removed there and resided until 1895, and then removed to his homestead on sections 3 and 2, in township 148, range 66. He has erected a comfortable residence and other farm buildings on his homestead farm and now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, about two hundred sixty acres of which he culti- vates. He has made a success of farming and de- spite losses of crops by hail and stock by disease, he has surrounded himself with the comforts of a country home and is doing an extensive grain raising business,

Our subject was married, in 1893, to Miss Maggie La Piere, a native of Michigan. Mrs. Noack's father, Joseph La Piere, is of Canadian French descent, and was born in Canada. He was

a miner and farmer and Mrs. Noack was raised in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. Three chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Noack, as follows : Willie, born December 16, 1893; Andy, born August 27, 1896, and Elsie, born August 7, 1898. Mr. Noack is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, he is an independ- ent voter, and is a man who keeps pace with the times in all public matters and casts his influence for good local government and is deservedly held in high esteem by his associates.

JAMES NEEDHAM, one of the earliest settlers of Empire township, Cass county, has accumulated a fine property by dint of his own efforts and is widely and favorably known. He is thoroughly versed in the most approved methods of operat- ing a farm and good management and painstaking care are evident on the place.

Our subject was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1838, and was a son of George and Mary ( Tanner) Needham, both of whom were natives of county Longford, Ireland. His father was a farmer by occupation and emigrated to Canada about 1823, and took up land there, where he passed the rest of his career. Six sons and two daughters con- stituted the family of children, of whom our subject was a member, and all are now living, with the ex- ception of the daughters.

Mr. Needhamn was reared in Canada and there received his education and later learned the trade of a carriagemaker, which he followed in Canada twenty years, most of the time engaged in manu- facturing. He went to Cass county, North Da- kota, in 1879, and entered claim to land in Empire township, as a homestead, on which he immediately began improvements. His dwelling was the only one for miles around and he experienced the hard- ships of pioneer life. He has followed farming there continuously since and now owns a section and a quarter-section of choice land, all of which is improved.

Our subject was married, in 1868, in Canada, to Frances Moore, a native of Canada. Mrs. Need- ham's parents came to America from Ireland.

Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Needham, as follows: George W., Robert H .. John W., James T., Samuel, Mary A., now Mrs. Nixon, Adam W., Pearl, Fred M. and Ina F. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Needham has filled numerous offices in his township and is an earnest worker for the better interests of his community. Politically, he is a Republican and is earnest in his convictions.

JOSEPH P. RYAN, M. D. The medical fra- ternity has many representatives in North Da- kota and it is as a foremost member of this pro- fession that this gentleman is known. He enjoys a good practice in Grafton, Walsh county, and al-

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though a resident of that city comparatively few years, he has gained an assured position as a skillful practitioner and genial gentleman.

Our subject was born near the city of Kings- ton, Ontario, Canada, Angust 22, 1871, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (McManiman) Ryan, who were natives of Canada and Ireland, respectively. His father is a lawyer by profession and moved to near Winnipeg in 1875 and was a member of parlia- ment for ten years. He still lives in Canada and is the present judge of county court. He has four sons, of whom our subject is the only one in the United States.

Dr. Ryan was educated in the McGill College, of Montreal, Canada, graduating from the medical department in 1896 and spent one year in the hos- pital of Toronto, Canada. He then went to Crow's Nest Pass in the Rocky mountains for one year as surgeon for the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and in the fall of 1898 went to Grafton and is now engaged in general practice there and enjoys an increasing patronage.

Our subject was married, in June, 1899, to Alice Doyle, a native of Canada. To Dr. and Mrs. Ryan has been born one child, a son, born May 26, 1900. Joseph Bertram by name. Dr. Ryan is a member of the insanity board of Walsh county, to which position he was appointed in the summer of 1899, and he is also county physician of Walsh county. He also holds membership in the Modern Wood- men of America and Brotherhood of American Yeo- men, and is examining physician for the last named order.

JOHN BEATTIE. The result of well-directed labor is strikingly exemplified in the career of the gentleman whose name heads this personal history. He went to Dakota without means during the early days of the settlement of Cass county and is now proprietor of a fine farm in Empire township, one on which he is successfully conducting general farm- ing.

Our subject was born in Rocksborough county, Scotland, June 27, 1858, and was a son of Peter and Mary (Scott) Beattie, both of whom were natives of Scotland. The father was a shepherd by occu- pation and came to Americo in 1881 and settled in Rich township, Cass county, where the father filed a pre-emption claim to land, where he still re- sides. The mother died July 2, 1898. Two sons and two daughters, all of whom reside in Cass coun- ty, were born to this worthy couple.

John Beattie was reared in his native land and received his education there and then followed ag- ricultural pursuits until 1876, when he went to Ontario, Canada, and resided there until 1880, when he removed to Cass county, North Dakota, and took land in Rich township, where he resided about five years. He entered claim to the land on which he now resides, in Empire township, in 1885 and he now owns an entire section of land, all of

which is under cultivation and is entitled to rank as one of the finest farms of that locality.

Our subject was married, in 1889, to Miss Maggie Thompson, a native of Canada. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beattie, named as follows: Jane E., Mary E. and Aggie. Mr. Beattie is a member of the Presbyterian church and is held in high esteem by his fellows. He has served in various township and school offices and his public spirit has never been called in question. Politically, he is a Populist and advocates reform principles.

JOSEPHYNE M. PAULSEN. Among the prominent educational workers of the Northwest, the subject of this review is entitled to a foremost place. Miss Paulsen is identified with the schools of Wells county in the capacity of county superin- tendent and has accomplished much in that line and gained a high standing as an educator and pro- moter of the best methods of instruction. She is thorough, systematic and heartily interested in her work and is efficient and well educated and a lady of refinement and culture.

Our subject was born in Brown county, Minne- sota, on a farm and her father, Edwin Paulsen, was a native of Norway. He came to America when a boy of four years of age and was in his later years a public officer of Minnesota. Miss Paulsen was reared on a farm and attended the country schools for a while and then attended the graded schools and graduated from the Mankato Normal School in May, 1895. She at once began teaching in Min- nesota, and in August, 1896, went to North Dakota, where she accepted a position as principal of the Harvey school. She spent one year in that position and then was principal of the Fessenden high school a year and a half. She was elected county superin- tendent of schools of Wells county in 1898 on the Republican ticket and is now serving in that ca- pacity.

Miss Paulsen is a leader in her profession and labors to raise the standard of educational excel- lence. She is popular with the people and her suc- cess as an instructor is well merited.

ALBERT F. PINKHAM has spent twenty years in the pursuit of agriculture in Cass county and is widely known as a man of ability and good citizen- ship. He is conducting grain raising extensively in Empire township and enjoys the result of a well- spent career.

Our subject is a native of Kennebec county, Maine, and was born at Sidney, May 24, 1847. His parents, William and Maria (Fowler) Pinkham, were natives, respectively, of Maine and England. His father was a carpenter by trade and also fol- lowed farming to some extent. He went to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1850, and was later employed by the Northwestern Railroad Company, building

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bridges and water tanks. He now resides in Wells county, North Dakota. The mother died when our subject was thirteen years of age. The grandfather of our subject, Rhuben Pinkham, was a native of Maine and served in the war of 1812, as a private in a Maine regiment.

Our subject was one of a family of seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters, all of whom reside in North Dakota, with the exception of one brother, who makes his home at St. Louis, Mis- souri, and one brother, who died in Fargo, in 1892. Mr. Pinkham was reared and educated in Wiscon- sin, and there followed farming and school teach- ing and in 1864 removed to Minnesota, where he remained until 1871 and then removed to Cass coun- ty, North Dakota, and settled at Fargo. He en- tered claim to land as a pre-emption near the city and resided thereon four years and then disposed of his land and spent the six years following in Montana, Wyoming and the Black Hills, returning to Cass county, North Dakota, in 1881, when he took the homestead upon which he now resides. He at once began improving the farm and now owns two and a half sections of land, all of which is under plow, and he raises annually from twenty-five to thirty thousand bushels of grain. He has met with remarkable success in his calling since taking up his residence in Cass county.

Our subject was married, in Wisconsin, in 1887, to Miss Sarah Pebles, a native of Fond du Lac coun- ty, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Pinkham are the parents of three children, as follows: Margarette H., Ezra C. and Sherman F., all of whom are living. Mr. Pinkham was elected county register of deeds in 1890 and was re-elected in 1892, serving two ternis. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias and in political faith is a Republican and stands firm for party principles. He was chair- man of the first Republican convention of the county in 1874 and is a member of the county central com- mittee.

WILLIAM F. WINTER, vice-president of the First National Bank of Langdon, is one of the well- known business men of Cavalier county, and has been identified with the growth and development of that locality and is entitled to special mention in the annals of North Dakota. He is a man of good executive ability and forethought and is earnest and practical in his business and possessed of active public spirit and to him the community owes a debt of gratitude.

Our subject was born in Kingston, Ontario, September 18, 1857, and was reared in his native place and received a liberal education, graduating from the Kingston high school. He went to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1872, and was connected with a wholesale dry-goods house for two years as travel- ing salesman. He went to North Dakota in 1880 and resided in Pembina a short time and was en-

ployed as clerk in a mercantile establishment and then went to Olga, Cavalier county, in the fall of 1883, and there engaged in the real estate and loan business, and remained there until 1887, when he removed to Langdon and has resided there since that date. He served as county treasurer in 1889 and 1890 in Cavalier county, and gained the confidence of the people by his faithful and efficient work. In company with P. McHugh and W. J. Mooney, he organized the Cavalier County Bank, in 1887, and was cashier of the institution from 1891-1893, until it was organized as the First National Bank, and re- mained cashier of the National until 1898. He then resigned his office and has since been engaged in the real estate and loan business. He formed a partnership with H. D. Allert, in the real estate and loan business and the firm now conducts a good business under the firm name of Allert & Winter. Mr. Winter owns several thousand acres of land in the vicinity of Langdon and has been instru- mental in building up the town.

Our subject was married in Langdon, Cavalier county, to Miss Ida Orton, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Winter have one son, named Morris Orton. Our subject is a thirty-second-degree Mason and a member of the Commandery and Mystic Shrine and was master of Lebanon Lodge, No. 34, of Langdon, for three years and is active in social affairs.

BERNHARD LUEDER, a prosperous merchant of New Salem, Morton county, went to Dakota without means and is enjoying the result of a well- spent career and judicious management of business affairs. He was born in Gredfswald, Germany, March 11, 1863.

The father of our subject, John Lueder, was a tailor by trade and he served in the German army five years. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Wilhelmina Seeggert, now makes her home with our subject and she has aided him in all his endeavors and cheered him when failure seemed the only outcome of his work. Her father was a dairyman and the paternal grandfather of our subject was a brewer.

Mr. Lueder was raised and educated in the city and he and his brother, Ludwig Lneder, graduated from good schools in Germany. Our subject was engaged in various business enterprises in Germany and then spent two and a half half years at the shoemaker's trade and when he was eighteen years of age he and his brother came to America, landing at Baltimore. He spent two years in Michigan City, Indiana, where he was fireman in a chair factory in connection with the State's prison. This position he gave up on account of failing health, and in 1883 joined the colony of Germans and went to New Salem, North Dakota, and he and his brother took government land and built a shanty thereon. They followed farming a good share of the time

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the first four years and in 1887 started a small store in New Salem, with a stock costing nineteen dol- lars, which money they obtained by selling milk to the Northern Pacific Railroad Company for use in the dining cars. They then worked at any jobs to be found and kept the business running and in the fall of 1890 built a shanty at their present location, corner Main and C streets. A fine store building was erected in 1892 and an addition built in 1896, making one of the largest store buildings of the town. They have engaged in stock raising to some extent and have prospered in their business ven- ture. The brother is a member of the syndicate owning the town lots of New Salem.

Mr. Lueder is a member of the Woodmen of the World and he is actively interested in public mat- ters and is a Republican politically.

DUNCAN MCKENZIE. Among the younger members of the farming community of Gill town- ship, Cass county, the gentleman above named is deserving of a foremost rank. He is an early set- tler of that region, and his life work has been de- voted to the upbuilding and strengthening of the better interests of the community in which he was reared and has since lived. He is proprietor of a fine farm of two sections near Wheatland, and has prospered in his calling, and is one of the highly es- teemed young men of Cass county.

Our subject was born in Bruce county, Ontario, Canada, November 2, 1868, and was one of a family of six children, two sons and four daughters, born to John and Jane (McIntyre) Mckenzie, both of whom were natives of Canada. His father was a farmer by occupation, and followed the same in Canada until 1878, when he located in North Da- kota, and entered claim to land in Gill township, Cass county, as a homestead, and became one of the pioneers of that region. He cleared the land and resided there during the balance of his career. His death occurred in North Dakota in 1892. He was a prominent citizen of his township, and assisted in the organization of the same, and served in various official positions. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and was held in high re- spect and esteem wherever he was known. Polit- ically he was a Republican and strong in his con- victions. The mother survives and still makes her home in the old homestead farm. Our subject's brother resides in Cass county.

Mr. Mckenzie was reared and educated in Cass county, North Dakota, and has spent his career there, and now operates a well-developed farm of two sections. He has become thoroughly acquainted with the most approved methods of conducting an estate, and has prospered in his chosen calling, and is regarded as one of the substantial men of that locality.

Our subject was married, in 1892, to Jennie Col- lins, a native of Canada. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie, named as follows:

Myra, Margie and Trava B. Mr. Mckenzie is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellow's and Modern Woodmen of America. He has been called upon to serve in various offices in his town- ship, and is at present a member of the board of su- pervisors.

ZERLINA S. EAKIN, superintendent of schools of Foster county, is one of the leading edu- cators of North Dakota, and one of the early settlers of Foster county. She is a native of Galilee, Penn- sylvania, and a daughter of William and Maria (Martin) Eakin. The Eakin family were early settlers of western Pennsylvania. The parents of Miss Eakin died before she was five years of age, andshe was reared in western Illinois. She attended the common schools and Carthage College at Car- thage, Illinois. After having taught school in Illinois. Iowa and Missouri, she came to North Dakota in 1882 and located a claim in Foster county, and since March, 1883, she has been a resident of Foster county. She taught in Stutsman and Foster coun- ties for quite a number of years. In 1898 she was elected county superintendent of schools. She has under her supervision forty-three schools, having an enrollment of seven hundred and eighty-nine pupils. As a teacher Miss Eakin was very successful, and as superintendent of the schools of Foster county she is doing good work, and her services are being ap- preciated. She is also interested in farming, and has a good farm about five miles from Carrington. The consensus of opinion in Foster county is that in her hands the schools of the county are safe and bound to succeed.

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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 119

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