Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 124

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 124

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Our subject was married, in 1888, in Minneapo- lis, Minnesota, to Mary Forstraa, a native of Nor- way. Mr. and Mrs. Rogne are the parents of six children. Mr. Rogne takes an active part in local affairs, and has served as county surveyor four years and clerk of the school board for several years. He has watched the growth of the town, and has aided materially in its advancement. Politically, he is a Populist, and stands for reform principles under any name.

FRANK N. KING. This name is borne by a prominent citizen and business man of Pembina, North Dakota, who has won his way through dis- couraging circumstances and is a striking example of our self-made men. He is a member of the firm of King & Company, hardware dealers, and the business with which he is connected is one of the most extensive in the city and they enjoy a liberal patronage.

Our subject was born in Fredericksburg. Vir- ginia, December 23, 1856, and is the youngest child and only son in a family of four children born to Samuel and Ann E. (Adams) King, both of whom were natives of New York state. The mother died while our subject was an infant and the father afterward married a southern woman and soon after his second marriage.went North to enter the service of the Union army. Our subject was reared by his uncle and aunt and the scene of his boyhood days was the Empire state, where his uncle was engaged in the mercantile and lumber business. He re- ceived a practical business training there and at the age of eighteen years became a partner with his brother-in-law in the general merchandise business at Fairmount, Illinois. They removed to St. Vin- cent in 1880 and in less than one year removed their

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business to St. Andrews, Pembina county. Our subject came to Crystal in 1882 and then took land, employing himself as clerk in his brother-in-law's store at that point, and in 1887 he went to Pembina and worked at collections and also cared for ex- tensive land interests which he had accumulated. He engaged in the hardware business in 1898 in company with M. E. Ryan, and one year later E. D. Booker was admitted as a member of the firm, and they now conduct the business under the firm name of King & Company. They deal in hard- ware, stoves, tinware, farm implements and ve- hicles and carry a full line of each. Mr. King owns about sixteen hundred acres of land near Pembina, which he leases out each season. He has gained his possessions single-handed and is one of the sub- stantial men of the locality.

Our subject was married, in May, 1883, to Miss Almira E. Gram. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. King, named in order of birth as follows: Ralph, deceased, Harry, Charles, Roland and Katherine. Mr. King is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, Modern Woodmen of America and Ancient Order of United Workmen. In political faith he is a Republican and is strong in his con- victions.

MARTIN SCHOW. For thirty years this gen- tleman has followed farming in Noble township, Cass county, and has accumulated a fine estate and gained a host of friends, who hold him in the high- est esteem. He makes his home on section 24, and is passing his declining years surrounded by the comforts of a happy country home.

Our subject was born in Norway, November 4, 1835, and was reared on a farm and also lived in Christiania, where he served in the army five years. He then engaged in the mercantile business near Christiania seven years and in May, 1866, embarked in a sailing vessel for America with his wife and three children. Fourteen weeks and three days were consumed before their arrival at Quebec, and immediately upon the arrival there they started for Minnesota, it being four weeks before they reached Winona, that state. Mr. Schow assisted in building a flour-mill and was thus engaged and also as a miller for four years. He then went to the Red river valley, moving with an ox team and set- tled where he lives at present and has held con- tinnous residence since June, 1870. He has made good and valuable improvements and his farm ranks among the first of the locality. He owns about five hundred acres of land and has followed general farming with eminent success.

Our subject was married near Christiania, Nor- way, September 24, 1861, to Miss Dorthea Bjerke, who was born in Norway, September 17, 1839. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schow, eight of whom are still living, and bear the following names: Clara C., now the wife of Mr. O. E. Flaten, of Moorhead, Minnesota; Alma, now

Mrs. Even H. Holt, of Noble township, Cass coun- ty ; Robert, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this work ; Lars, who has been constable of Noble township for seven years ; Jennie ; Carl ; Othelia and Maria. One daughter, Amelia, died in Noble town- ship, Cass county, at the age of fourteen years. Mr. Schow is a man of broad mind and is strong in his convictions. He takes an active part in im- portant local affairs and has held all the higher offices in his township and has also taken an active interest in county affairs. Cass was formerly a part of Pembina county and prior to the division of the county Mr. Schow was chosen sheriff of Pembina county. He and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

GEORGE A. WHEELER, one of the pioneers of Grand Forks, North Dakota, is now living in retirement and is one of the honored citizens of that region. He was born in Worchester county, . Massachusetts, September 28, 1832.

The parents of our subject, Aaron and Hannah (Dane) Wheeler, were natives, respectively, of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. His father was a stone cutter and owned a quarry and passed his life in Massachusetts. The grandparents of our subject, on the paternal side, were descendants of Elisha Wheeler, a resident of Lexington, who served in the Revolutionary war, at Bunker Hill and Valley Forge. Our subject had one brother, Horace E., who served in the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Vol- unteers and was in the service three years and died in Massachusetts many years after the close of the war.

Mr. Wheeler was reared and educated in his native state and lived there and followed various occupations until 1857, when he went to Minnesota, then a territory, and settled in Dakota county and assumed charge of a lumber yard at Nininger until the breaking out of the Civil war. In 1862 he en- listed in Company F, Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. His regiment was sent to quell the Indian uprising in Minnesota in 1863 and assisted in the capture of the Indians and their hanging at Mankato. They then were with General Sibley on the Missouri river and re- turned to Minnesota in September, and in October were sent south. The first engagement was at Tupelo, Mississippi, and then followed campaign- ing in Arkansas and Mississippi. They were with General Thomas at Nashville and then moved to Mobile bay, assisting in the capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, and then marched northwest to the Mississippi river and were finally taken to their homes by boat up the river. Our subject was discharged from the service at Fort Snelling. in August, 1865, and he then moved to Princeton, Min- nesota, and followed farming there eight years. He came to Dakota in 1873 and entered claim to land one mile north of Grand Forks and after proving his claim entered another, which he still owns.

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He was in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company and had charge of their saw-mill there for two years. He then followed agricultural pursuits for some years, but for the past twelve years has lived in re- tirement and has a comfortable competence.

Our subject was married, in 1858, to Ellen Mudgett, a native of Maine. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, as follows: Mary E., now Mrs. R. Reeves ; George A., Jr., Ella M., now Mrs. T. J. Devitt, and Grace, now Mrs. N. M. Shaw. Mr. Wheeler was appointed county superintendent of schools upon the organization of Grand Forks county, and was later elected to that office. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and G. A. R. In June, 1900, he was elected senior vice-commander of the department of North Da- kota. G. A. R. Politically, he is a life-long Re- publican. He is one of the oldest settlers of North Dakota and is highly respected and esteemed by his many friends throughout the state.

ROBERT SCHOW. This gentleman is pro- prietor of one of the finest farms of Noble town- ship, and aside from engaging in the pursuit of agriculture he follows blacksmithing and carriage- making, and has one of the best-appointed shops in that region. He is industrious and possessed of integrity and a capacity for well-directed labor and as a result of these characteristics is prosper- 011s, and enjoys an enviable reputation. His home is in section 26, of Noble township, where he has resided since his boyhood days.

Our subject was born in Christiania, Norway, March 8, 1865, and was a son of Martin and Dor- thea ( Bjerke) Schow, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. His parents came to America when he was about a year and a half old and settled in Fillmore county, Minnesota, from whence they removed to the Red river valley and settled in what is now Noble township, Cass county, North Dakota.

Robert Schow assisted on his father's farm and received a common-school education and grew to manhood in Noble township. He remained at home until 1889, when he began farming for himself and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of choice land. He learned the blacksmith's trade in Baker county, Minnesota, which he follows in addition to his farm work and also engages in car- riage making and general blacksmith work. He has met with success, both in his farming and at his trade, and his farm is fully improved with ex- cellent buildings and a completely equipped shop.

Our subject was married, November 4. 1889. to Miss Minnie Noben, a daughter of Ole and Christina Noben. Mrs. Schow's parents came to America from Norway and lived in Dane county, Wisconsin, and afterward in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and later removed to Baker county, Minne- sota, where the father died June 18, 1899. Ten children were born to this worthy couple, Mrs.

Schow being the fourth in order of birth. She was born in Decorah, Iowa, April 10, 1866, where she spent the first twelve years of her life and then resided in Baker county, Minnesota, until her mar- riage to Mr. Schow. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schow, named as follows: Arnliot Leonard, Martin C. O., Lilly C. D. and Beatrice O. Mr. Schow and wife are members of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church, and are held in high es- teem by the people among whom they reside. Our subject is a man of active public spirit and has served as township assessor several years.

HON. SETH NEWMAN, a prominent and suc- cesful attorney of Fargo, North Dakota, and a meni- ber of the well-known law firm of Newman, Spald- ing & Stambaugh, was born in Herkimer county, New York, December 7, 1836, a son of Peter and Betsy (Burwell) Newman, who spent their entire lives in that state, where the father followed the oc- cupation of farming. Our subject is indebted to the public schools of his native state for his early edu- cational advantages, and later he attended the Fair- field Academy. The following four years were spent in travel, and at the end of that time he com- menced the study of law in Buffalo, New York, under Governor Boies, of Iowa. For two years he was also a student in the law office of Sarwin. & Lockwood, and in 1860 was admitted to the bar in Buffalo. For a short time he was engaged in prac- tice with Governor Boies in Erie county, New York, but in 1861 went to Iowa on account of his health. He located first at Waterloo, and later made his home in Independence, spending some years in that state. He resumed the practice of law in Independ- ence in 1870.

In 1882 Mr. Newman came to Fargo, North Dakota, and formed a law partnership with V. S. Stone which existed until 1891, and during the fol- lowing two years he was connected with William C. Rosser in practice. In 1893 he joined Spalding & Phelps. Mr. Phelps retired in 1896, after which the firm became Newman & Spalding, and continued until 1898, when Mr. Stambaugh became a member of the firm, business being now conducted under the name of Newman, Spalding & Stambaugh. Con- stant study and close application to the details of his profession have enabled Mr. Newman to become one of the foremost lawyers of the state. He is engaged in general practice, and has met with excellent suc- cess financially as well as professionally. He is in- terested in the Fargo Gas & Electric Company, of which he is now president, and is also a stockholder and director of the First National Bank.

In 1866, Mr. Newman married Miss Laura F. Newell, a native of New York, and they have two daughters : Sarah F., now the wife of G. D. Dial, of Chicago; and Elizabeth, wife of J. A. Power, son of the proprietor of the Helendale stock farm at Power, North Dakota. Religiously Mr. Newman and his family are members of the Episcopal church,

HON. SETH NEWMAN.

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and he has for some years been chancellor of the jurisdiction of North Dakota, and socially he be- longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of Uni- ted Workmen. A prominent and influential citizen of Fargo, he was called upon to serve as mayor of the city in 1888 and 1889, and in 1893 represented his district in the lower house of the state legisla- ture. In September, 1899, the State Bar Association was formed in the state of North Dakota, with Hon. Seth Newman as president, a position he now occu- pies. Upright, reliable and honorable, his strict ad- herence to principle commands the respect of all, and he has made a host of warm friends throughout his adopted state. On another page will be found a portrait of Mr. Newman.

JOHN A. WREN. This gentleman is the fortunate owner of one of the fine estates of town- ship 148, range 66, in Eddy county, and is well known as an agriculturist who is doing an extensive business. He engages principally in grain raising and in this line has met with marked success and his present comfortable circumstances have been arrived at by persistent efforts and honest industry.

Our subject was born on a farm near London, Ontario, Canada, October 29, 1865. His father, William Wren, was born in Scotland and settled in Canada and was a farmer by occupation, and the grandfather of our subject, Thomas Wren, was of English lineage. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Jane Dick, was born in Scotland and died in November, 1893, in Ontario, Canada.

Mr. Wren was the eighth born in a family of ten children, and was reared on a farm. He at- tended the common school and assisted with the farm work. He worked at farm labor in Canada and with his savings, about two hundred dollars, went to Eddy county, North Dakota, when about twenty-eight years of age. He rented land near New Rockford and started farming, continuing on the rented land about three years, and in June, 1895, entered claim to the southwest quarter of section 24, in township 148, range 66, whereon he erected a small granary, 14x16 feet. His present comfort- able and commodious residence he erected in 1897, and he has also built a large, substantial barn on the place and his farm presents a pleasing- appear- ance. He is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land and operates about six hundred and sixty-five acres and has all machinery for the work of the place. He keeps about fifteen head of horses, fifteen head of cattle and some other stock, but de- votes his attention almost exclusively to grain rais- ing. He lost about one hundred acres of wheat in 1898, which was the finest stand of grain ever raised on the place, but despite much discourage- ments he has prospered.

Our subject was married, in April, 1890, to Miss Jessie Stewart, who was a schoolmate of Mr. Wren.

Mrs. Wren's father, Duncan Stewart, was a farmer by occupation, and both her parents were natives of Scotland. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wren, as follows: Stella, born in Canada, Maggie, Herold, Laura, Willie and Florence. Mr. Wren is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, he is a Republican and stands firm for his convictions. He is energetic and devotes himself intelligently and closely to his work and well merits his success.

PETER H. NARUM. For over twenty years the farming interests of Cass county have been ably represented by the gentleman whose name here ap- pears. He has resided in Noble township since 1879 . and has been a potent factor in the development of that region and his fine farm in section 35 is evi- dence of thorough and practical work.

Our subject was born in Norway, February 14, 1857, and was about eight years of age when he came to America with his parents, who settled in Houston county, Minnesota. Here our subject was reared to manhood in Spring Grove township, and received a common-school education. He remained in that county till the spring of 1879, when he went to North Dakota and settled in Noble township, Cass county. He entered claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land as a homestead and has since increased his acreage to seven hundred and twenty. He has devoted himself to his calling and on his home farm has erected a complete set of excellent buildings and provided all comforts for the in- habitants of the place. He engages in general farming and is successful in his vocation.

Our subject was married in Noble township, Cass county, North Dakota, December 10, 1883, to Miss Martha Wold. Mrs. Narum was born in Houston county, Minnesota, May 13, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Narum are the parents of the following children: Hannah, Henry, Emma, Carl Martin, Bertie and Selma. One daughter, Tilda, died at the age of seven years. Mr. Narum takes an active interests in all matters pertaining to the civil govern- ment and has served as one of the supervisors of Noble township for many years and is president of the school board. His active public spirit and integrity have never been called in question and he is enjoying well-earned success. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

HENRY LARSON is proprietor of one of the well-regulated farms which form so large a part of the wealth of Gardner township, Cass county. It is located in section 12, and he also owns land in Wiser and Harwood townships and is recognized as one of the leading farmers of the county. On his home estate he has placed substantial and commodi- ous buildings and made various arrangements for the easy disposition of the crops and the comfort of the inhabitants. He is industrious, intelligent and pos-

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sessed of untiring energy and is highly esteemed throughout that locality.

Our subject was born near the city of Maribo, Denmark. April 5, 1845, and was reared on a farm and remained there till after he attained his majority. He emigrated to America in the spring of 1866, landing at Quebec, from whence he pro- ceeded to New York, and then went to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1870. He then went to South Dakota and remained one year and then located in North Dakota, taking land as a "squatter's claim," in what is now Harwood town- ship, Cass county, and there lived till the fall of 1873, when he returned to Oshkosh. He remained in Wisconsin till the spring of 1878, and then lo- cated permanently in Dakota, entering claim to land as a homestead and tree claim in Gardner township, Cass county, where he has since resided. He is now the owner of one section and a quarter of land in Gardner, Wiser and Harwood townships, and is known as an agriculturist who is conduct- ing an extensive business. He has given his at- tention wholly to farming since taking up his resi- dence in Dakota and has acquired a thorough knowl- edge of his calling and met with eminent success. His home farm is well improved and he enjoys a pleasant country home.

Our subject was married in Oshkosh, Wiscon- sin, to Ellen Connors, a native of Ireland. Mrs. Larson died in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1885, leav- ing one son, Arthur. Mr. Larson was married to Miss Carrie Maddison, in Fargo, North Dakota, December 2, 1887. Mrs. Larson was born in Nor- way, January 3, 1852. Six children have been born to this union, as follows: Frank, Charles, Albert, Mary, William and John. Mr. Larson is an earnest worker for the welfare of his community and has been a member of the board of supervisors of Gardner township for many years. He is strong in his convictions and keeps abreast of the times in all matters of a public nature and lends his in- fluence for good local government.

"NEWS & TIMES," of Grafton, a consolidation of the "News," which was established in 1881, and the "Times," which was established in 1882, is one of the leading papers of Walsh county, and is now ably conducted by Mrs. Susie E. Bates, widow of William D. Bates, who conducted the paper for many years with success.

The paper was consolidated in 1883 and the first editor was H. C. Upham, who acted in that ca- pacity till 1889, when the paper passed into the hands of William D. Bates.

Mr. Bates was born in Cherry Valley, New York, and went to Hastings, Minnesota, when a boy, and there learned the printer's trade, which he followed in Minnesota until 1882, and that year came to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and acted as foreman of the job department of the "Herald," and came to Grafton in 1883 as foreman of the "News

& Times," and the following year went to Park River and purchased the "Gazette," of that place. He conducted the paper there three years and then returned to Grafton in 1887 and purchased the "Herald," which he conducted for some time as a daily and weekly. In 1889 he purchased the "News and Times" and consolidated it with the "Herald" and conducted the paper until his death. The sheet was Republican until 1896, when it was changed to a Democratic paper and is now the organ of that party in Walsh county. Mrs. Bates now has full control of the paper and edits a bright and newsy sheet and the paper enjoys a circulation of fifteen hundred copies in Walsh and adjoining counties.

Mr. Bates was married in Minnesota, in 1882, to Miss Susie E. Mayhew, a native of Minnesota. Three children, two sons and one daughter, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bates. Mr. Bates died Oc- tober 30, 1898. At the time of his demise he was a member of the Order of Foresters and was well known and highly esteemed throughout that lo- cality as an able business man and citizen.

CHARLES E. CRUM occupies a prominent place as one of the most extensive farmers and stock raisers of Burleigh county, North Dakota. He makes his home in township 139, range 77, where he located in the early days of the settlement of that region, and has made a pronounced success of his life work.

Our subject was born on a farm in Cass county, Illinois, in 1857. His father, Thomas J. Crum, was born in Illinois, and was of German descent, and his grandfather, James Crum, was a farmer and stock raiser. The mother of our subject, who was Sarah Henderson, prior to her marriage, was born in Illinois. The parents were married in Illi- nois and our subject was the eldest of a family of eleven children born to the union.

Mr. Crum attended country school, Protestant Methodist College, at Adrian, Michigan, the Illi- nois State University and graduated from the Jack- sonville Business College and English Training School in 1877. He went to Nebraska in 1878 and engaged in farming and stock raising one year, and in 1889 worked for J. O. Bone, live stock and commission merchant of Chicago, and in the spring of 1882 went to Burleigh county, North Dakota, and worked in Bismarck one year at the Merchant's Hotel, and in that year located land and in the spring of 1883 began operations thereon. He built a claim shanty and had six head of horses and some nia- chinery and his first crop was hailed and dried out. He had a good crop in 1884 and has prospered since that time. He followed grain raising principally the first five years and in 1888 began stock raising, and he now follows the latter line of agriculture extensively and in 1898 started sheep culture and now has eight or nine hundred head. He now has a farm of one thousand acres, with one hundred and fifty acres under cultivation and the rest for

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stock range and hay and he has all improvemets for operating a model farm, making one of the finest pieces of property in the county.

Our subject was married, in 1883, to F. Anna Le Lapp, a native of Illinois. Her father, John M. De Lapp, was of French descent. Four chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crum, who are named as follows: Mary Ethel, born in 1888; Sarah A., born in 1889; Roscoe, born in 1891, and Howard, born in 1893. Mr. Crum has served as township treasurer sixteen years and takes an active part in public matters in his township and county. He is a Democrat politically and is earnest in his convictions.

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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 124

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