Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 127

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

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from his original farm of one hundred and thirty- seven acres he has increased his possessions to ten hundred and fifty-five acres. He has placed good improvements on his place and the entire estate evi- dences thrift and prosperity.

Our subject was married, in Raymond township, Cass county, August 6, 1882, to Miss Johanna Erick- son, also a native of Sweden. Mrs. Monson died in Raymond township April 9, 1899. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Monson, as follows. Clara D .; Herman C .; Alexander died at the age of one year; Esther D., Ellen M. and Beda C. Mr. Monson is prominent in local affairs and is an earnest supporter of every enterprise which tends to developing the locality in which he makes his home. He nas served as justice of the peace for sev- eral years and is president of the school board. He has devoted his time and attention strictly to his work and is among the substantial men of his call- ing in Cass county.

CRANE & LOSEE. This firm is conducting an extensive farm in township 148, range 64, in Eddy county, and is a pioneer firm of that locality. They began farming operations together during the early settlement of Eddy county and have continued to the present time, and are now among the sub- stantial agriculturists of their community.

Peter Crane, of the above named firm, was born in Niagara county, New York, in 1856. His father, Peter Crane, was born in New Jersey and was a farmer by occupation. The Crane family settled in America during Colonial days. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Caroline Harris and her family were Americans. She died when our subject was but eight years of age.

Mr. Crane was the third in a family of five chi1- dren and was raised on a farm and attended the common schools, and at the age of thirteen years left home to make his own livelihood. He worked at farming and threshing in New York state until 1883, when he went to North Dakota and there took government land on section 6, in township 148, range 64. Eddy county, and erected a claim shanty, 14×12 feet, and lived a bachelor's life the first two years. A partnership was formed with Mr. W. H. Losee, in 1883, whom he met in Jamestown, and they entered their claims together. Their first team was oxen and they farmed the first six years with cat- tle. They succeeded in raising good crops and on numerous occasions suffered loss by prairie fires, but on the whole have been successful and are now en- gaged in orain and cattle raising. They have a farm of eleven hundred and twenty acres, about half of which is under cultivation and the balance is in pasture. Their farm is well equipped with buildings and machinery and furnishes a good in- come annually.

Mr. Crane was married, in the spring of 1880, to Miss Caroline Aspinwall, a native of New York state. Mrs. Crane's father, Minor Aspinwall, was

a farmer by occupation during his career and was an early settler of North Dakota, where his death occurred. The Aspinwall family has been in Amer- ica many generations. Mr. and Mrs. Crane are the parents of one child, Amy H., who was born in Dakota in June, 1890. Mr. Crane is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a man who keeps pace with the times and casts his vote independently of party.

W. H. LOSEE, who has been associated with Mr. Crane in farming since his early settlement in North Dakota, was born in Peekskill, New York, Decem- ber 15, 1857. His father, Isaac Losee, was a molder by trade and was of French descent. The grand- father of our subject came from France and the grandmother was of Dutch descent

Mr. Losee was raised in his native town and at- tended the city schools and also Peekskill Military Academy. He was employed at clerking in a gro- cery store in Peekskill three years and then went to Dakota in the spring of 1883, when he entered into partnership with Mr. Peter Crane and they are now among the extensive farmers and stock raisers of township 140, range 64, Eddy countv.

Mr. Losee was married, in 1884, to Miss Martha Loder. Mrs. Losee was born and raised in the state ot New York and was a daughter of Caleb Loder, a shipbuilder by trade. Her family are Americans for many generations back. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Losee, Alma L., who was born ir Dakota in December, 1886. Mr. Losee holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America and is independent in political sentiment. He and Mr. Crane were among the first settlers of that lo- cality and have aided materially in its growth and prosperity, and are entitled to much credit for their work in behalf of the community's interests.

THEODORE L. FRENCH, deceased. For many years the subject of this review was president of the Peoples' Bank of Wahpeton, and as a capable and energetic citizen was well known throughout Richland county. He was also owner of three thou- sand acres of land, and on his home farm on section 29, in Center township, had erected commodious and substantial buildings.

Mr. French was born in Vermont, in July, 1836. He went to Dakota in 1875, and located in Center township, Richland county, in 1878, where he re- mained until his death. He was the inventor of the Adams and French Harvester, and was a man of more than ordinary ability.

Our subject was married, at Cortland, DeKalb county, Illinois, to Miss Mary E. Barnes, a native of Elmira, New York. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. French, Jesse R., a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume. Theodore L. French died August 6, 1892, leaving his wife and one son to mourn his death. Mrs. French later married H. F. Lane, of Center township.

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JEFFERSON M. MYERS, state's attorney for Walsh county, North Dakota, is a gentleman of the highest character and possessed of an excellent edu- cation and wide knowledge of men and the world and occupies a prominent place in general matters. He has gradually built up an extensive law practice and has long been one of the leading lawyers of the Walsh county bar and is recognized as one of the leading attorneys of North Dakota. He has a quick and comprehensive mind, is earnest in his convic- tions and is devoted to the interests entrusted to his keeping and is a well equipped practitioner, an able advocate and thorough lawyer.

Our subject is a native of Sheldon, Richland county, Ohio, and was born April 6, 1854. His par- ents, Joel and Emily A. (Ayers) Myers, were na- tives of Pennsylvania and his father was born in Cumberland county, that state, and the family were of Dutch descent on the father's side. The father of our subject was a lawyer and practiced his profes- sion in Ohio for some years and was the first pro- bate judge of Richland county and was re-elected to that office. He afterward became ·part owner and editor of the "Ohio Statesman," of Columbus, Ohio, and in 1875 sold the paper and passed the last years of his life at Oberlin and died in February, 1899. The mother of our subject passed away in 1859. They were the parents of three ons and four daugh- ters, of whom our subject is the only one in North Dakota.

Mr. Myers was reared and educated in the pub- lic schools of Mansfield, Ohio, and at Cornell Uni- versity, and taught school two years, when he be- came clerk in the office of the probate judge at Mansfield and held the position four years, during which time he read law. He was also interested in "The Ohio Liberal" at Mansfield as owner and edi- tor, and in 1883 came to Bartlett, North Dakota, and became editor and manager or the "Bartlett Times," which he operated six months and then went to Nelson county and conducted the "Nelson County News' one year, and in January, 1885, gave up the paper and was appointed deputy register of deeds of that county and later elected county super- intendent of schools, which position he held four years. He was admitted to the bar in 1885 and be- gan the practice of his profession at Lakota, in com- pany with Fred A. Kelly. The firm existed until 1800 and in 1891 Mr. Myers came to Park River and remained a short time and during the same year moved to Grafton, where he has resided continu- ously since.

Our subject was married, in October, 1876, to Mary A. Fulk, a native of Pennsylvania. Three children, one son and two daughters, have been bor" to Mr. and Mrs. Mvers. Mr. Myers was elected state's attorney in November, 1896, and was re- elected in 1898. He has also served on various lor hoards and as city attorney and is well known and deservedly popular with the people. He is a Dem- ocrat in political sentiment and is strong in his con- victions.

THE GRAND FORKS WOOLEN MILLS, a stock company, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, the majority of which is owned by local parties, was organized in 1893 by George B. Clifford and the following officers were chosen: G. B. Clif- ford, president; A. P. Clifford, secretary and treas- urer. The directors included the above named gen- tlemen and J. E. Clifford. The building now oc- cupied by the company was erected in 1895-6 and is a substantial brick structure, 100x50 feet, with three stories and basement. They have between fifty and sixty thousand dollars invested in machinery and consume from three hundred thousand to five hun- dred thousand pounds of wool, purchased mostly in Dakota, and manufacture shawls, lumbermen's clothing, jackets and underwear and also a full line of woolen goods, blankets, etc., and the products of the mill are sold in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minne- sota, North and South Dakota and Montana, several traveling representatives being employed. They employ from seventy-five to eighty men and women the year around. The mill is the farthest west with the exception of some on the Pacific coast. The management of the mill is entrusted to Mr. Alvin Clifford and under his guidance does an extensive and profitable business. The original capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars was increased in 1896 to fifty thousand dollars.

WILLIAM H. HERMAN. In whatever voca- tion engaged the successful man is the persistent man. The subject of this review has a well de- veloped farm in Harwood township, Cass county, and has acquired his possessions and enviable rep- utation by honest industry and economy. He is now enjoying his well-earned success in his pleasant home in section 9.

Our subject was born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, November 14, 1863. He spent his boy- hood days in his native place and remained there till the fall of 1881, when he went to Dakota in search of a field for his labors and with the object of en- gaging in farming for himself. He worked at farm labor in Harwood township. Cass county, till the fall of 1889. He settled on the farm which he now owns and has operated it since 1890, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres of land. He has erected a complete set of good farm buildings and added other improvements to the place and con- ducts general farming. His place evidences care ' ful management and painstaking care in its opera- tion and ranks among the best tracts of land in the locality.

Our subject was married in Harwood township, Cass county, December 25, 1890, to Miss Maggie Still, daughter of David Still, one of the early set- tlers of Harwood township. Mrs. Herman was born in Canada and went to Dakota with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Herman are the parents of one child, Ira A. One son died at the age of fifteen months. Mr. Herman is a man of the highest honor and is

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respected by all with whom he has to do. In af- fairs pertaining to local government he has taken an active part and has held various official positions. He has been township clerk two years in Harwood township and a member of the board of supervisors five years and is the present chairman of the board. He holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Brotherhood of American i eomen.

HON. JOHN D. WALLACE one of the most prominent men of Drayton, Pembina county, is en- gaged in farming and also deals extensively in stock and has made a success of both enterprises. He is a man of persistent character and honest efforts and has reached his present high standing by his push and energy

Our subject was born in Ontario, Canada, Feb- ruary 24. 1845, and was a son of Donald and Har- riet (Lasby) Wallace. He was the eldest in a fam- ily of nine children, all of whom are living with the exception of the youngest son, who died from the effects of the campaign with Roosevelt's Rough Riders. The Wallace family belong to the old High- land Scotch clan Wallace. The grandfather of our subject left Scotland for South America in 1827 and from there went to Guelph, Canada, where he made a home.

Mr. Wallace grew up to farm work and Feb- ruary 20, 1881, joined a brother in Pembina county, North Dakota, and being favorably impressed with the prospects there filed claim to the southeast quar- ter of section 22, in Drayton township. He had signed papers of security for friendship's sake and was reduced in consequence from a position of financial ease to almost nothing and with his wife and a family of six small children went to Dakota in February, 1881, and took up his residence there without sufficient means to begin operations on his homestead and worked for others to earn a liveli- hood for himself and family. Within a few months the wife died and he then removed his children to Drayton, where they might be cared for, and amid these discouragements began working at his farm improvements. He started to deal in stock in 1882 and along that line his success has been marked. He now has a good property and a comfortable home and has gamed his possessions single handed.

Our subject was married, in 1867, to Miss Han- nah Patmore, who died in 1881. Six children were born to this union, as follows: Mary M., now Mrs. H. H. Healy, M. D., of Michigan City, North Da- kota ; William H., cashier of a bank in Belview, Minnesota : Edward H., bookkeeper and cashier of Amenia & Sharon Land Company at Amenia, North Dakota : Ernest H .. now studying law : Lewis H., a graduate of Hamline University, and a member of Company H. Thirteenth Minnesota Regiment in the Spanish-American war, who was severely wounded at the battle of Manna; and Charles H., a member of Company H, Thirteenth Min-

nesota, now a student in Hamlin University. Mr. Wallace was married to Miss Mary Larter in 1883. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, as follows: Ella I. and Max- well R. Mr. Wallace was elected to the state legislature 111 1896 and the following clection was returned in the same capacity. He served as chairman of the steering committee during both ses- sions and was an efficient member of the general assembly. He also served on the railroad com- mittee. From 1884 to 1886 he was county com- missioner and is a man of active public spirit and well merits success. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity, Ancient Order of United Work- men, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and In- dependent Order of Foresters and is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican and is a stanch member of his party.

WILLIAM F. SHANAFELT, one of the suc- cessful grain farmers of Wells county, has a pleasant estate in section 7, township 149, range 69, where he settled during the pioneer days of that locality. He has thoroughly improved his property and is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of good land, all but twenty acres of which he has brought to a high state of cultivation.

Our subject was born on a farm in the south- western part of Michigan March 21, 1853, and was a son of W. H. and Susan ( Bleecher) Shanafelt. His father was a farmer throughout his career in Michigan and the grandfather of our subject was a native of Germany and the paternal grandmother was a native of Ireland. The mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania and her father, Daniel Bleecher, was born in Germany and was a potter by trade.

Mr. Shanafelt was the third in a family of seven children and at an early age began farm work, at- tending the country schools during the winter. When eighteen years of age he left home and worked in the lumber woods of northern Michigan about four years and spent the summers in the saw- mills. He began farming in 1876 in Cass county, Michigan, and followed it six years on land which he purchased. This was a grain and fruit farm and he met with good success there. He disposed of his interests and went to North Dakota in 1882 and settled in Cass county, where he rented land and re- sided nine years, the last two years of the time on land which he purchased. He went to Wells coun- ty in 1891 and filed claim as a homestead to the northwest quarter of section 7, in township 149, range 69. The arst summer he lived in a tent and succeeded in breaking fifty acres of land and spent the winter in Cass county. His residence in Wells county dates from the spring of 1892 and with lim- ited means he has gathered together a good property and has a comfortable and substantial residence, good barns and farm buildings and raises wheat, flax and oats successfully.

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Our subject was married, in 1876, to Miss Jose- phine Williams. Mrs. Shanafelt was born in Cass county, Michigan, and was a daughter of Henry and Sarah ( Davis) Shanafelt, the former a native of New York and the latter of South Carolina. Mr. Shanafelt has held membership in the Modern Woodmen of America for the past eight years. He is actively interested in the welfare of his commun- ity and has served as a delegate to numerous county conventions of the Republican party, with which he is associated.

EDWIN E. MAY, an enterprising and pro- gressive member of the farming community of Cass county, stands among the foremost men of his call- ing. He has devoted his life to agricultural pur- suits almost exclusively, and is proprietor of a fine estate in Berlin township, on which ne conducts gen- eral farming on an extensive scale, and makes his home in section 1.

Our subject was born near Berlin, Wisconsin, on a farm June 11, 1849, and was the third in a fam- ily of four sons born to Amasa and Eunice ( Bur- nell) May, both of whom are still living. He spent his boyhoou days till sixteen years of age on his father's. farm and assisted with the farm work, and then spent about four years in other places, after which he returned to his native place and fol- lowed farming there for himself, and remained until April, 1881, when he removed to North Da- kota. He settled in Berlin township, Cass county, and his original possessions amounted to six hundred and forty acres of land. He is now the owner of one thousand one hundred and thirty-three acres of well-improved land, and has built a good residence and outbuildings, and made other valuable improve- ments on the place. He has devoted himself to his work, and is one of the best informed men as regards his calling and is truly classed among the substan- tial citizens of Berlin township.

Our subject was married near Berlin, Wiscon- sin, January 21, 1874, to Miss Edna Tusten, a native of that place. Mr. May is determined and loyal and his adherence to the right and to his friends, and is one of the most important factors in the de- velopment and growth of the financial and social interests of his community.

BEECHER ALLEN, county anditor of Kidde: county, is one of the rising young men of that local- ity. He is proprietor of a fine farm near Steele and has made a success of that line of work. He is a popular and efficient public official and commands respect wherever he is known.

Our subject was born on a farm in Jefferson county, Missouri, April 13, 1870. His father, Al- fred Augustus Allen, was a physician during his active business career. He was of English-Irish descent. The great-grandfather of our subject was born in Vermont and was of Puritan stock. The

mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Malay, was born in West Virginia and was of Irish descent. The families on both sides were pioneers of Illinois and there the parents of our sub- ject were married. They went to lowa after the Civil war and about 1868 went to Missouri, and when our subject was two years of age returned to Iowa and settled near Corning, Adams county, where the father followed his practice as a physi- cian. He later moved to North Dakota and began farming in Kidder county and gave up his profes- sion, taking government land twelve miles north of Steele.

Our subject was the youngest in a family of nine children and was reared in Iowa and educated in the country schools and also attended Amity Col- lege at College Springs, Iowa. He removed with his parents to North Dakota when sixteen years of age and assisted his father on the home farm until 1894, and after attaining mis majority entered a homestead claim to land adjoining his father's farm and engaged in farming in partnership with his father several years, assuming charge of the work of the place. The family moved to Sioux City, lowa, in 1894, and our subject took a business course at the Metropolitan Business College, graduating in: 1897. He farmed on twenty acres of land rented within the city limits in 1896 and in the spring of 1897 the family returned to Kidder county, North Dakota, and our subject took charge of the farm and has continued its management and now has a thor- oughly improvea place, one of the best in the county and operates three hundred and twenty acres of val- uable land.

Mr. Allen was elected county auditor in 1898 and is now serving in that capacity. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias Lodge and in political sentiment is a Republican and is firm in his con- victions.

HERMAN C. SHEER, who resides in town- ship 149, range 69, in Wells county, is one of the most extensive farmers of that region. He has eight hundred and eighty acres of well-improved land and he has gained his possessions single- handed and by persistent efforts, having passed through the experiences of pioneer life.

Our subject was born on a farm in Dodge county, Wisconsin, June 17, 1860. His father, Her- man C. Sheer, was born in Germany and came to America when a young man and followed farming and carpenter work. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Louisa Zelmer, was born in Germany and came to America with her parents at the age of sixteen years. Our subject's father died when our subject was but four years of age, and he was early put to work on the farm and attended the country school, learning both Ger- man and English. When fourteen years of age he left home and worked at farm labor and the second year in a brick yard and he was employed in this

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manner several years. He spent one year in Illinois in 1878, and then three years in the city of Ocono- mowoc, Wisconsin, as coachman, and in 1882 he went to North Dakota and worked in the vicinity of Casselton during the summer of that year and in 1883 rented a farm in the southwestern part of Cass county, and followed farming there until 1888. He filed on land in Wells county as a tree claim in township 149, range 69, in the fall of 1886 and dur- ing the first season put in a crop in Cass county and broke land in Wells county, driving from one farm to the other. He entered a pre-emption in 1887 and a homestead claim in 1889, and in the lat- ter year erected a small house, and with four oxen began work on his farm. He now has eight hun- dred and eighty acres, all of which is cultivated with the exception of one hundred and eighty acres, which is devoted to pasture and grass land. His buildings on the home farm are commodious and substantial structures, and include a well-furnished house, good barns, granary, with a capacity of ten thousand bushels, a machine shed and other neces- sary buildings. He has a good supply of farm ma- chinery, including a steam threshing rig, twenty-six- horse-power compound engine, self-feeder and wind stacker. He has met with unbounded success in grain raising and also raises some stock, including cattle and hogs, and his farm is regarded as one of the best in Wells county. After traveling through Marshall and Brown counties, and along the north- ern portion of South Dakota, Mr. Sheer selected land in Wells county, and his present financial standing is proof of his good selection of land and location.

Our subject was married March 10, 1891, to Miss Mellie Kartbin. Mrs. Sheer was born and raised in Wisconsin, and was a daughter of Fred Kartbin, a native of Germany, who came to America and followed farming in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Sheer are the parents of three children, as follows : Martha, born January 6, 1892; Arthur, born March 17. 1894; and Elmer, born January 19, 1899. Mr. Sheer was elected county commissioner in 1896 and served three years, and is active in public affairs of his township and county and has served on the school offices. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and is highly esteemed in the com- munity in which he makes his home.

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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 127

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