Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 120

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

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PETER JOHNSON, a well-known and popu- lar citizen of Wahpeton, North Dakota, who is now efficiently serving as register of deeds of Richland county, was born in the kingdom of Norway, July 15, 1870, and is a son of Peter and Bertha (Knud- son) Johnson, also natives of that country. In 1882 the family emigrated to America, and first lo- cated in Douglas county, Minnesota, but after four years spent there they came to Richland county and settled near Abercrombie, where the father is still engaged in farming. In the family were ten chil- dren, five of whom are still living, two sons and three daughters, our subject being the eldest.

During his boyhood and youth Mr. Johnson, of this sketch, aided his father in the operation of the home farm, and then entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company as station agent and telegraph operator at Aber- crombie, remaining there for about one year. He continued with the railroad company at different places, however, for two years afterward. In 1891 he entered the office of the county register of deeds at Wahpeton as clerk, and remained there in that capacity until 1893, when he was appointed deputy. In the fall of 1898 he was elected register of deeds

PETER JOHNSON.

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on the Democratic ticket and is now most capably and satisfactorily discharging the duties of that office, with which he had become so thoroughly fa- miliar during the seven preceding years. He is a young man of more than ordinary ability, is enter- prising and progressive, and is very popular with his associates: Socially he is a member of Wahpe- ton Lodge, No. 15, F. & A. M. In connection with this sketch a portrait of Mr. Johnson will be found.

RASMUS M. VIGNESS, a well-to-do and in- fluential agriculturist of Walsh county, has his resi- dence on section 28, Grafton township, where he has resided for the past twenty years, and where he is well known and respected for his integrity and many worthy characteristics.

Mr. Vigness was born in Mower county, Minne- sota, January 9, 1858. While he was yet a child his parents removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he grew to manhood, and was educated in the public schools of the county. When he was twenty- two years of age he came to Walsh county, Dakota, arriving in the spring of 1880, and took up a home- stead claim of one hundred and sixty acres in section 28, Grafton township, and began to improve his property. He has been successful in his under- takings and has prospered. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of productive and valuable land, and he has added improvements front time to time, until there is not a more valuable tract of land in the county. Mr. Vigness is a thorough farmer and an industrious worker, and to his own efforts is due in most part his present comfortable circumstances.

Mr. Vigness was married in Mitchell county, Iowa, to Miss Lisa Ask. Mrs. Vigness is an accom- plished lady and is devoted to her home and family. To this union the following children have been born, who are now living: Melvin L., Chester L., Theo- dora M., Ruth L. and Olga I. In political faith Mr. Vigness is a Republican, and he has been active in local political matters and affairs of a public nature. He has been called upon to serve in the capacity of township assessor, and chairman of the township board, and in everv relation to the public he has proved himself worthy of confidence, and a most ex- emplary official. He is also an active church worker, and is a worthy member of the Hauges Norwegian Lutheran church of Grafton.

EDWARD C. BATES. In the various finan- cial enterprises of Grand Forks, North Dakota, the Grand Forks Mercantile Company takes a leading place, and the gentleman above named is one of the important factors in the success enjoyed by this com- pany, having held the office of president of the same since its establishment. He is also president of the Northwestern Fire & Marine Insurance Company of Grand Forks, and in each of the enterprises in which he has embarked he has met with unbounded

success, and is one of the substantial business men of North Dakota.

Our subject was born at River Falls, Wisconsin, February 20, 1860. His parents, Luther M. and Mariah ( Wilcox) Bates, were natives of Vermont, and the father was engaged in business there many years. He removed to Wisconsin in the early '50s, and then returned to Vermont in 1864, and is now a resident of the latter state.

Mr. Bates was raised in Vermont, and received a high-school education there, and later taught school two years. He came to North Dakota in 1880, and engaged in the general merchandise business in Forest River, Walsh county, and continued there three years, and then removed to Ardoch and con- tinued there until 1892, when he came to Grand Forks, and January 1, 1893, founded the Grand Forks Mercantile Company, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, and the following officers: C. F. Williams, vice-president, W. A. Currie, treas- urer, and F. S. Lycan, secretary, and our subject president. The capital stock was later increased to sixty-six thousand dollars, and they now conduct nearly a million dollars' worth of business annually in North Dakota and Minnesota. Mr. Bates is also secretary and treasurer of the Rav Mercantile Com- pany, of Crookston, Minnesota. He was one of the organizers of the Northwestern Fire & Marine In- surance Company of Grand Forks, and was elected the first president of the company.

Our subject was married, in 1882, to Miss Chris- tina Anderson, a native of Canada. Four sons and one daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bates. Mr. Bates is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

MURDO McGREGOR, proprietor of one of the finest farms of Wheatland township, Cass county, is a pioneer settler of that locality, and has prospered in his chosen calling. He went to Da- kota during the days when perseverance, energy, industry and ability were called forth in the acquisi- tion of a home, and his present comfortable circum- stances evidence the degree in which these traits were found in the character of the gentleman above named. He has devoted himself to his work, and given every detail careful attention, and is recog- nized as one of the leading men of his locality.

Our subject was born in Rosshire, Scotland, September 1, 1824, and was a son of John and Ann (Morrison) McGregor, both natives of the same shire. His parents emigrated to America in 1844, and spent the remainder of their lives in Canada. His father was a farmer and stockman. Our sub- ject had three brothers, all of whom are now de- ceased.

Mr. McGregor was reared and educated in Scot- land, and went to Canada with his parents, where he stayed until 1863, and then removed to Winona county, Minnesota, where he purchased land and followed farming until 1879. In that year he went to North Dakota and entered claim to the northeast

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quarter of section 14, in Wheatland township, Cass county, as a pre-emption, and has made his home there since that date. He has added modern im- provements, and conducts a model farm in every particular, and has provided all conveniences and comforts.

Our subject was married in Canada, in 1856, to Margaret Mckenzie. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McGregor: Donald, Farquhart, John; Kenzie, deceased; Alexander, Duncan, Kenzie, Rebecca and Ann. Mrs. Mc- Gregor died in 1891, leaving many friends to mourn her demise. Mr. McGregor is a man who keeps pace with the times, and in political sentiment is a Democrat.

BJORN F. WALTERS, deputy sheriff of Pem- bina county, stands among the rising young men of North Dakota. He has gained an assured posi- tion as a public-spirited citizen, and is a man of ability and practical nature, and has gained his rep- utation through honest industry and strict adherence to justice, and is a representative man of the commu- nity in which he makes his home.

Our subject was born in Iceland, October 7, 1869, and is the third in a family of four children born to Josafat and Gudny ( Gudlogsdottir) Walt- ers. The father farmed in Iceland, and our subject received a good education and studied English some in his native place. The family emigrated to the United States in 1885, and located in Dakota ter- ritory, where one of the daughters had resided two years. The father was aged, and the support of the family fell upon our subject, then fifteen years of age. He located the family at Pembina, and began work- ing out at farm labor among the agriculturists of that locality. He never attended the English schools, but read books of all kinds, and well remembers read- ing twice the first book he attempted before he mas- tered the sense of what he read. He began work for the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1888, as assist- ant agent, and in 1890 established a dray line in Pembina, and later again entered the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. He was ap- pointed deputy sheriff of Pembina county in 1896, and served one year, and in 1897 went to Winnipeg, and founded an Icelandic paper, known as "Heims- kringla," (The Globe). He became deputy sheriff again in Pembina county in 1899, and is now serv- ing in that position and is ably discharging the du- ties entrusted to him and gaining popularity with the people.

Our subject was married, in 1889, to Miss Sophia Halldorson. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walters, named as follows: Jo- hannes, Svava, Halldora Asta, and Haraldur Oscar. Mr. Walters has mixed in public affairs since his early manhood and has a strong following in his com- munity. He holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Modern Woodmen of America, and

politically is a Democrat, and is an earnest worker for party principles. He has made a success of his career in North Dakota and is deservedly popular.

EDWARD A. WILLIAMS, county treasurer of Wells county, is one of the early settlers of that re- gion, and is proprietor of one of the fine farms of township 147, range 69. He has been identified with the interests of his township since its organiza- tion, and in all matters pertaining to the civil gov- ernment, or in any way relating to the welfare of the township he has taken an active and leading part. He has gained many friends, and is held in high es- teem, and enjoys the confidence of the people among whom he has chosen to reside.

Our subject was born in Herkimer county, New York, November 30, 1851, on a farm, and was a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Evan) Williams, the former of English-Welch and the latter of Welch descent. His father was born in England, and came to America in April, 1851, and settled in New York state.

Mr. Williams was the second child and eldest son in a family of five children, and was early put to farm work. He attended school in winter till eighteen years of age, and later attended White- stone Seminary at Whitestone, New York, and after attaining his majority he traveled through Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, for four years, working at the carpenter's trade or any work which he could find. He then returned to New York, and remained two years and assisted on the farm, and April 6, 1882, arrived at Fargo, North Dakota, and April 20 went to Jamestown where he worked at his trade thirteen months and then took land in Wells county, in township 147, range 69, and built a sod shanty. He began farming in the spring of 1883, and bought oxen, a plow, wagon, walking plow and harrow, and had no barn till the fall of that year. He lived alone in Dakota the first nine years, and experienced pioneer life. The lum- ber in his shanty cost eighty-eight dollars per thou- sand, and he paid twenty dollars per ton for hay and hauled it twenty-two miles, and for the first two or three years he broke land for others. He en- gaged in wheat, flax and cattle raising, and at one time was largely interested in hog raising, and had over one hundred head, and sixty head of cattle. He now has a farm of one thousand one hundred and forty acres, about eight hundred acres of which is under cultivation, and on his home farm he has a complete set of good farm buildings, and all ma- chinery necessary for the operation of a model farmi. He has about two hundred acres of meadow land, and his farm is admirably adapted to general farm- ing

Mr. Williams has a pleasant home with his sis- ter as housekeeper, and their father resides with them on the farm. Our subject was elected county treasurer of Wells county in 1898, and is now ably discharging the duties of that office. He is a mem-

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ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Po- litically he is identified with the Republican party and is an earnest worker for party principles.

JOHN CUTHBERTSON, deceased. For nearly fifteen years prior to his death this gentleman was associated with the farming interests of Wheat- land township, Cass county, and his demise was mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances who had learned to regard him with the high- est esteem. He was prosperous as a farmer, and his good character and public spirit were beyond re- proach. The mother is still residing on the farm in section 9, and the family is highly respected by all.

Our subject was a native of Kilmarnook, Scot- land, and was born September 23, 1823. His par- ents, John and Sarah (Alexander) Cuthbertson, were natives of Scotland, and came to America in 1829, locating in New Brunswick, where they lived and died, and the father was a carpenter. Our subject was reared and educated in Canada, and there learned the cooper's trade, and continued to reside there until 1849, when he went to California and engaged in mining there six years, meeting with little success. He then returned to Canada, and re- mained there until 1881, when he went to Cass county, North Dakota, and purchased land on sec- tion 9 in Wheatland township, and at once began the improvement of the farm. He engaged in general farming and met with success in that vocation.

Mr. Cuthbertson was married in Canada, in 1860, to Elizabeth Murdock, a native of Ayrshire, Scotland. Eleven children, seven of whom are living were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cuthbertson, as follows: Mary, now Mrs. A. Cameron ; John, Kate, now Mrs. Bessett ; William, Lizzie, Maggie and Al- exander. Mr. Cuthbertson died in 1895, leaving the family and a large circle of friends to mourn their loss. He was a member of the Presbyterian curch, and held membership in the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. He assisted in the or- ganization of Wheatland township, and was actively interested in public affairs. Politically he was identified with the Democratic party.

JOHN P. FRENCH, JR. As an all around prominent man of Gibbs township, Burleigh county, our subject is entitled to a foremost place. He is a young man of firm determination, enterprising and progressive, and ably conducts one of the finest stock farms of that region.

Mr. French was born in Augusta, Maine, March 28, 1874. His father, John P. French, Sr., a na- tive of New Hampshire, was a stock dealer, miner and speculator. The grandfather of our subject, Nicholas French, was also born in New Hampshire. The genealogical tree is easily traced back to three brothers by the name of French, who came to America in the Mayflower. The father of our

subject had brothers who served in the war of 1812. The mother, Anna E. Downs prior to her mar- riage, was of Scotch descent, born and raised in Mame.

Mr. French is the youngest in a family of three children. At the age of ten years he came with his parents to North Dakota, and settled in Burleigh county, where the father engaged in farming. He had but limited means, and the first few years were almost total failures, the crops of but four years in sixteen proving profitable. He began sheep rais- ing in the year of 1886, with sixty-three head and made a success of this line of agriculture despite the fact that wolves destroyed as high as forty head in a single night. He built a smail house and straw barn and raised but enough to feed the sheep and horses the first few years. Our subject assumed charge of the ranch when he attained his majority, and having conducted it successfully has three thousand two hundred sheep. He is now branching into cattle raising. He owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, and controls six sections aside from the home ranch, and is one of the most exten- sive ranchmen of that community.

During the winters of 1892 and 1893 Mr. French attended the Dirigo Business College of Augusta, Maine, being graduated from that institution in March, 1893.

Mr. French was married, in 1898, to Grace J. Falkenstein, a native of West Virginia. Her fa- ther, Edmund Falkenstein, was also born and raised in West Virginia. Mrs. French was engaged in teaching in Burleigh county for several years, and was widely known in educational circles. MIr. French is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He has served as school clerk for the past eight years and is one of the rising young men of Burleigh county. Politically he is a Republican.

BURTON HULBERT. Among the prosper- ous farmers of Eddy county, who have passed through pioneer experiences and have made a suc- cess of grain raising and are now enjoying the comforts of rural life, the gentleman whose name heads this personal history deserves special mention. He was one of the earliest settlers of township 148, range 66, and has persevered although many dis- couragements beset his path, and he is now regarded as a farmer who is conducting an extensive business.

Our subject was born in Ontario county, New York, on a farm in 1842. His forefathers fought in the Revolutionary war, and the family record on the paternal side is as follows: Daniel, Russel and the father of our subject, Anson Hulbert. The last named was a farmer throughout his career, and the family is of English descent.

MIr. Hulbert was the fifth in order of birth in a family of six children, and was raised on a farm. At the age of eighteen years he enlisted in the Twenty-first New York Cavalry, in 1862, and was

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sent to join the Army of the Potomac. He partici- pated in many of the hard fought battles of the war, including Gettysburg, Winchester and was at Rich- mond and Petersburg. He saw nearly three years of active service, and on one occasion the horse on which he was mounted was killed, and at another time one was wounded. After the close of the war he returned to New York state and followed paint- ing. continuing in that trade twenty-five years in New York and Michigan, spending four years of the time in the latter state. He went to North Da- kota in the fall of 1882 and looked over the country through Foster and Edy counties, and in the spring of 1883 located in Carrington, and made his home there two years, working at his trade. Carring- ton was but a small place upon his arrival there, and the hotel being full of guests he was compelled to sleep the first two nights in a hogshead. His family joined him July 10, of that year, and in the spring of 1884 he took government land in Eddy county, which when surveyed proved to be the south- east quarter of section 2, in township 148, range 66. He built a claim shanty and began farming and also worked at his trade, and during the first two years farmed with oxen. His nearest neighbor was then two miles away, and there was not a house be- tween his place and New Rockford. He and his wife now own four hundred and eighty acres of land, their son has three hundred and twenty acres, and their daughter one hundred and sixty acres, making a total of nearly one thousand acres controlled and owned by the family. Mr. Hulbert has four hun- dred acres under cultivation, and on his farm has all necessary machinery and buildings for the con- duct of a modern farm. He engages in wheat rais- ing almost exclusively, and in this line has been re- markably successful. He is a man of energy, and July 17, 1890, took the contract to carry the mails between New Rockford and Manis, by way of Tif- fany, for four years. The distance is twenty-five miles, and it is to be made daily and home again, fifty miles in every kind of weather.

Our subject was married, in 1871, to Miss Eliza Waite. Mrs. Hulbert is of English descent and was born and raised in Kingston, New York. Her father, Hiram Waite, was an engineer on the great lakes. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hulbert, all of whom were born in New York state, and are named as follows : Angeline, now Mrs. Johnston ; Mark and Ellen. Mr. Hulbert is a highly esteemed citizen of his community and is a man who keeps pace with current events. Politically he is a Republican.

DR. P. U. LABERGE, physician and surgeon of Grafton, North Dakota, has gained an assured posi- tion as a citizen and leader of his profession through his excellent work as a practitioner, and is a gentle- man of broad mind and good education.

Our subject was born near Montreal, Canada, August 22, 1860, and is a son of Joseph and Julia

(Darias) Laberge. His parents were natives of Canada, and both died in their native country. Of three sons born to this worthy couple, our subject is the only one residing in North Dakota.

Dr. Laberge was reared and educated in Mon- treal and took a classical course in Montreal Col- lege, graduating in 1879. He began the study of medicine in 1882, and entered the Victoria Univer- sity of Montreal and graduated therefrom in 1886. He began the practice of his profession the same year in Franklin county, New York, but soon after- ward moved to Ogdenburg where he remained a short time. He came to Grafton, Walsh county, in December, 1886, and has followed the practice of medicine in the county and city continuously since that date, and has built up a remunerative and ever- increasing patronage.

Our subject was married, in 1888, to Marie Deschenes, a native of lower Canada. Two daugh- ters have been born to Doctor and Mrs. Laberge, one of whom is now living. Dr. Laberge served as president of the United States pension board from April, 1894, to 1898, when he resigned, and he has also filled the position of county coroner and county physician for four years. He is the local surgeon for the Northern Pacific Railroad. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of the Maccabees, and is medical examiner for five life insurance companies, including the Mutual, of New York, the Manhattan, of New York, and the Equitable, of New York. He has been superintendent of the county board of health for the past six years, and has devoted his entire attention to the practice of his profession, and has been well rewarded and is deservedly popular with the people.

JUDGE AUGUSTUS ROBERTS. In this gentleman, who has for several years served as county judge of Cass county, North Dakota, we find united many of the rare qualities which go to make up the successful lawyer and jurist. He possesses a mind practically free from judicial bias, and he brings to his duties a most thorough knowledge of the law and of human nature, a comprehensive mind, and calm and deliberate judgment. A portrait of Mr. Roberts will be found on another page.

Judge Roberts was born in Maine, April 15. 1853, and is a son of Ahira and Mary A. (Durgen) Roberts, life-long residents of that state, where the father was engaged in mercantile pursuits. In their family were six sons, of whom five reached years of maturity, and three are now residents of North Dakota. The Judge was reared and educated in his native state, attending the high school and academy at Dixfield. For a time he engaged in teaching school in the east.

In 1874 Judge Roberts came to Fargo, Dakota, and after spending a short time here went to the Black Hills. While there he was accidentally shot, and in 1877 was brought back to Fargo, where he

JUDGE AUGUSTUS ROBERTS.

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commenced reading law with his brother, S. G. Rob- erts. In 1880 he was admitted to the bar, and the same year was elected city justice, which position he filled for four years in all. In the fall of 1880 he was elected probate judge, and has held that office continuously since, it being changed to that of county judge when the state was admitted to he Union. He has met with marked success in his chosen profession, and stands high in the legal fra- ternity.

In December, 1880, Judge Roberts was united in marriage with Miss Florence M. Chambers, and to them has been born one son, Edwin A. Socially the Judge is a Mason, and at one time also belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pytnias. He has been a life-long Re- publican, and was one of the organizers of the party in this state.

. NICKLAUS KAUTT. This gentleman lias de- voted his career to agricultural pursuits, and has met with unbounded success in his vocation since taking up his residence in North Dakota, and is now proprietor of one of the fine farms of township 140, range 71, in Kidder county.

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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 120

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