Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 129

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 129

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JOHN I. JONDAHL, residing on section 6 in Galesburg township, is one of the successful men of Traill county. He owns and operates a well culti- vated tract of land and has gained his possessions by his own efforts and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

Our subject was born in Norway, November II, 1853. His parents were Iver J. and Ragnild (Hanson) Jondahl, and their family consisted of three children, our subject being the second child and oldest son. All were born in Norway, where our subject worked at railroading and farm work until twenty-five years of age, and June 18, 1879, arrived at Fargo, North Dakota. He worked in Cass county two years and in 1881, filed on his land. From a start of $25 he has built for himself a good financial standing and enjoys all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He now owns eight

FARM RESIDENCE OF JOHN I. JONDAHL, TRAILL CO., N. DAK.

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hundred acres of land,' all of which is improved with good buildings, including a grist-mill run by horse-power, and his farm is well cared for and managed. A view of Mr. Jondahl's home appears on another page.

Our subject was married, in 1883, to Miss Ingri Kvam. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jondahl, as follows : Iver, Rosa and Clara twins; Ida and John, twins, the latter deceased ; John and Ole, twins, the last named deceased. Mr. Jondahl is a member of the Synod church. He has served in various official positions in his town- ship, including chairman of the township board and assessor and president of the school board, and is actively interested in the welfare of his community. Politically he is a Republican, and is well known at county conventions of his party. His career has been one of continued success, and he well merits the high position which he occupies as an energetic and industrious citizen.

TRUMAN E. WALDORF. In compiling a list of the earliest pioneers or North Dakota, who are thoroughly familiar with her development and have aided materially in the same, the name of our subject must be included. He is now a resident of Menoken township, and has a well-improved and valuable estate and has made a success of general farming.

Our subject was born on a farm in Grant coun- ty, Wisconsin, February 23, 1857. His father, Marion Waldorf, was of German descent and was born in Pennsylvania or Ohio. He was a farmer by occupation and died of disease in the army in 1862. The grandfather of our subject, Joseph Waldorf, was a farmer by occupation. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Virginia Wilcox, was born in Michigan. His parents were married in Wisconsin, and our subject was the eld- est in a family of three sons born to them, two of whom are now living. After the father's death the family moved to Cassville, Wisconsin, and there our subject attended school and received a good education and when he was thirteen years of age the family returned to the farm in Grant county, where he remained tintil after his mother's death, in 1879. The following spring he drove across the northern line of Iowa to Yankton, South Dakota, and then went to the Black Hills by team and remained there two years and then proceeded to Montana in the same manner and then back to Bur- leigh county, North Dakota, after one year spent there, and landed in North Dakota in 1883. He graded on the Northern Pacific Railroad in Mon- tana from Helena to Miles City, and after reaching Burleigh county, North Dakota, began farming, and during the first summer worked for others, and did not begin his own farming until 1884. He then took land as a homestead and erected a claim shanty and lived alone on his farm thirteen years. He sold his homestead farm in 1897 and the next year 38

bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, one hundred and thirty of which was cultivated, and he engages in stock and grain raising. He has one hundred and twenty acres in pasture and ten acres in forest trees and one of the best groves of the county, and he devotes sixty acres of land to hay. He has a complete set of farm buildings on the place and every appointment for conducting a modern farm and has made a success of his work there.

Our subject was married, in 1891, to Miss Hannah Peterson, who was born on a farm near Joranna, Sweden. Her father, Gus Peterson, was a farmer and came to America in 1885, and is an old settler in McLean county, North Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Waldorf are the parents of four children, named as follows: Emma, born in 1892; Edna, born in 1894; Bertha, born in 1897; and Grant P., born in 1899. Mr. Waldorf is a member of the town board and has also served on the school board for six years and takes an active interest in local affairs of importance. He is a member of the In- dependent Order of Foresters.

SIMON V. HOAG, an ex-soldier and well-to- do farmer, resides in section 33, in Harwood town- ship, Cass county, and is widely known as a man who is conducting an extensive business. He is a man of indomitable will, untiring perseverance and an energetic character. He experienced pioneer life in Dakota, and has been a resident of Cass county for nearly thirty years, during which time he has devoted his attention wholly to farming and has met with success in his calling.

Our subject was born in Montgomery county, New York, December 18, 1833, and was reared in that county till twenty years of age and then re- moved to Fulton county, Ohio, and engaged in farming three years, after which he settled in Whiteside county, Illinois, on a farm near Morri- son. While a resident there he enlisted in Com- pany C, Eighth Regiment Illinois Cavalry, and served nearly four years, a brave and loyal service. After the close of the war he returned to Whiteside county, Illinois, and resumed farming, which he followed there from 1865 till the spring of 1870, when he removed to Yankton, Dakota, and one year later went to North Dakota and entered claim to land in section 34, in Harwood township, and has resided there since that date. He was in company with John M. Bender for nearly ten years, in agri- cultural pursuits, and of late years has conducted his business alone. He has erected a complete set of good farm buildings on his place and is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of well-improved land, and follows general farming successfully.

Our subject was married, in September, 1861, at Delta, Ohio, to Martha A. Bradley, a native of Fulton county, Ohio. Mrs. Hoag died in Fulton county, Ohio, June 23, 1866, while on a visit to.

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her native place. Mr. Hoag was married in Cass county, North Dakota, October 29, 1876, to Miss S. Lizzie Leaverett. Mrs. Hoag was born in Errol, New Hampshire, March 5, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Hoag are the parents of the following chil- dren : Stephen H., Gertrude E., Phœbe C., Mary C., Nellie, Cora J. and S. Bender. Three children died in childhood, as follows: Amelia died in infancy; S. Lizzie died at the age of three years ; and John E. died at the age of twelve years. Mr. Hoag takes an active interest in affairs of local import and has served as county commissioner of Cass county one term and was elected for a second term but resigned after serving one year. He has been a member of the board of supervisors of Har- wood township for many years. He holds mem- bership in John F. Reynolds Post, No. 5, G. A. R., and affiliates with the Masonic fraternity.

OLE HENDRICKSON. The wealth of Eddy county is formed in a large part by the incomes from well-regulated farms from township 150, range 66. One of these carefully cultivated tracts is owned and operated by the gentleman above men- tioned. It consists of four hundred and eighty acres, on which buildings of substantial con- struction and good design have been erected, while modern methods are used in carrying on the work, and various arrangements made by which the soil can be more economically tilled and the products more easily disposed of.

Our subject was born in Nase, Halingdal, Nor- way, ninety-eight miles from Christiania, Septen- ber 12, 1839. His father, Hendrick Nelson, was a farmer and carpenter by trade, and died when our subject was but an infant. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Engaberg Ole- son, was born in Norway, August 25, 1793, and died in her native country April 12, 1856.

Mr. Hendrickson was raised on the farm and attended the country schools, but at an early age began farm work, and at the age of seventeen years came to America, landing at Quebec, in 1857, thence going to Detroit, Michigan, via the St. Lawrence and the lakes, and then went to Ordfordville, Wis- consin, where friends lived. He worked out at farm labor to repay for the money paid for his ticket to America, and heattended the schools in this coun- try winters and received a good education. He went to Spring Grove, Minnesota, in 1859, and worked at farming two years, and in 1801 pur- chased eighty acres of land, which he sold in 1865 and established a general store in partnership with John Myhre, under the firm name of Hen- drickson & Myhre, which he operated in Spring Grove about one year, when he sold his interest to his partner and entered into business with Amund Nelson at Brattsburg, Minnesota, the firm name being Hendrickson & Nelson. While a resi- dent of that place Mr. Hendrickson was postmaster nine years. He leased the store building in 1875

and disposed of the stock and followed farming about four years, and in 1879 removed to Pope county, where he owned three hundred and twenty acres of land, on which he engaged in farming four years. He sold two hundred and forty acres of his land in 1883 and went to North Dakota, taking land from the government in Eddy county in July of that year. He built a sod house 16x16 feet, and a sod barn, and had oxen and horses with which to begin farming. He had about twenty- five head of cattle, several of which he sold in the fall of 1883, and also disposed of the balance of his land in Minnesota and then shipped a car- load of cattle to North Dakota from Minnesota and engaged in the cattle business for two years, which was a profitable business. He sold some provisions and kept a small store in his shanty the nrst year, and was also postmaster of Gates post- office, the first postoffice in the neighborhood. He engages in gram raising and also raises cattle to some extent, and has met with success in mixed farming. He also owns residence property in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Our subject was married, February 26, 1864, to Aase Evensdatter. Mrs. Hendrickson was born in Nase, Halingdal, Norway, January 20, 1846, and was a daughter of Evan and Margit ( Plasen) Evensdatter, who were located in Spring Grove, Minnesota. Mrs. Hendrickson died March 4, 1888. The following children, all now engaged in farming in North Dakota, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson: Engaborg Sophia, born in Spring Grove, Minnesota, January 26, 1866; Marget Hellene, born in Brattsburg, Minnesota, September 28, 1867; Caroline, born in Brattsburg, Minnesota, March 7, 1869; Hendrick, born at Bratsberg, Minnesota, October 21, 1870; Evan, born at Brattsberg, Minnesota, February 9, 1874; Olaf Aasilits, born at Brattsberg, Minnesota, August 15, 1877; Svend Bernhart, born at Chip- pewa Falls, Minnesota, March 25, 1880; and Al- bert Nelins, born at Sheyenne, North Dakota, Oc- tober 4, 1885. The family are members of the Lutheran church, and our subject takes an active part in church affairs. He was elected county commissioner in 1887 and served one term of three years, and has served as treasurer of Sheyenne school district since its organization in 1886. Po- litically he is a Republican, and is a man who keeps abreast of the times and lends his influence for good local government, standing firm for his con- victions.

EUGENE S. OWEN, treasurer of Kidder county, is a gentleman of the highest integrity and enjoys the confidence of his fellow men. He has served as a public official in various capacities and in every instance has discharged his duties with faithfulness and has become one of the honored men of his community. He was a pioneer farmer of that locality, but has disposed of his farming

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interests and makes his home in Steele, North Dakota.

Our subject was born on a farm in Seneca county, Ohio, November 17, 1858, and was a son of Alanson S. and Lydia (Slaughter) Owen, both of whom were born in the same county in the state of New York. The families are old New England families and both settled in Ohio when the parents of our subject were but children, and were pioneers of that state. The parents were reared in Seneca county and there married, and two children were born to them, Myra B. and Eugene S., our subject.

Mr. Owen attended the country schools and also Hillsdale College, in Michigan, and at the age of twenty-one years began farming for himself on the old homestead farm and followed the same there seven years. He left his father's place in 1886 and went to North Dakota and arrived at Dawson, Kidder county, in April of that year, and took government land ten miles north of Dawson. He built a small shanty and had a few tools and en- tered into partnership with his father-in-law, and continued there until 1890, when he was appointed register of deeds in April and in the fall was elected to the same office, which he filled two years. He was elected county auditor in 1892 and served one term, and in 1895 and 1896 engaged in farming and stock raising, and in January, 1897, was ap- pointed deputy county treasurer, and in the fall of 1898 was elected county treasurer, and is now dis- charging the duties of that office in an able and satisfactory manner. He improved three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he has since dis- posed of, and takes no time from his public office to operate farm land.

Our subject was married, December 27, 1883. to Miss Ella M. Shoemaker, a native of Seneca county, Ohio. Mrs. Owen's father, Eleazer Shoe- maker, was of German descent and was a farmer. Her mother was born in Pennsylvania and was of English parentage. One child has blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Owen, named Floren Aften, who was born October 9, 1895. Mr. Owen is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and politically is a Re- publican and active in party movements.

JAMES STEVENSON. This gentleman is one of the enterprising and wide-awake business men of Ardoch, Walsh county, and in partnership with his brother owns extensive farm lands in Walsh and nearby counties. He is engaged with his brother, George Stevenson, in the drug business in that thriving town, and is widely and favorably known as a man of good citizenship and sound financial standing.

Our subject was born in county Wexford, Ire- land, March 20, 1849. He was reared in different places in his native Isle, and remained there until he was seventeen years of age, when he emigrated with his parents and their family to Montreal, Canada. He made his home there for some years,

but spent some time in the United States previous to taking up his residence here. In the fall of 1877 he went to North Dakota and located on the Turtle river, in Grand Forks county, and engaged in farm- ing there until early in the 'Sos (about 1882), when, in company with his two brothers, John and George, he engaged in the mercantile business in Ardoch. They continued together until about 1893, when they disposed of the business, and soon atterward our subject and his brother, George, established in the drug business, in which they have continued and now enjoy a liberal patronage and are counted among the substantial business men of the town. They also own nearly two sections of land in Walsh and Grand Forks counties.

James Stevenson was married, in Frontenac county, Ontario, to Miss Louisa Jacobi, a native of Germany. Eight children, seven of whom are now living, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ste- venson, named

as follows: George, Charles, John, Fannie, James, Bessie and Robert. Nellie, the eldest child, was married to Dannie Carmichal, and died in Ardoch, North Dakota, when about twenty-three years of age. Mr. Stevenson has held the office of township treasurer and other township offices from time to time as well as served in various official capacities in the town, and enjoys the confidence and highest esteem of the people among whom he resides.

JOHN M. BENDER, an ex-soldier, and prom- inent farmer of Harwood township, Cass county, was an early settler of that region, and is now the possessor of a fine farm, on which he enjoys all the comforts of country life. He is a man of strict integrity, careful and methodical in his business, and has made many friends by his push and en- ergy and gained an assured position among the substantial men of his calling. His residence is in section 33, of Harwood township.

Our subject was born in Waynesboro, Frank- lin county, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1842, and was a son of George and Jane ( McConnell) Bender. His father was a tailor by trade, and was fifty- eight years of age at the time of his death. The mother of our subject died at the age of sixty-two years. Both parents were natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and spent their lives there.

John M. Bender was the third in order of birth in a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, and was reared in his native town. He learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he fol- lowed till 1869, and then followed the carpenter's trade till .1880. He enlisted in Company E. One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, August 3, 1862, and served nine months, when he was discharged for disability, and returned to Waynesboro. He remained in Penn- sylvania till May, 1871, and then went to Dakota and located a soldier's claim in Reed township, and devoted himself to his trade and did not engage in

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farming till 1880, since which time he has given his entire attention to the pursuit of agriculture and has met with unbounded success. He settled in Harwood township in 1871, and on his farm has erected a complete set of commodious and sub- stantial buildings, and supplied every convenience of modern farming. He is the owner of six hun- dred acres of land, and follows general farming.

Our subject was married, in Moorehead, Min- nesota, in March, 1882, to Miss Mary E. Bradley. Mrs. Bender was born in Delta, Ohio, in 1847, and was a daughter of Alonzo and Mary Bradley. Mrs. Bender died in Harwood township, Cass county, North Dakota, June 11, 1897. Mr. Bender is active in all matters of a public nature in his com- munity and lends his influence for good local gov- ernment, and is deservedly held in hign esteem by his fellow men.

JOHN M. LLOYD, one of the most extensive farmers of township 147, range 70, in Wells coun- ty, is one of the pioneers of that region, and is a man of good judgment and well versed in his voca- tion. He is successfully pursuing general farming in Wells county, and in partnership with R. J. Lyness has stock ranch in McLean county, where they own one section of land. His home farm is well improved and provided with all the comforts of modern farming.

Our subject was born on a farm in Wisconsin, April 20, 1857. His father, James Lloyd, was of Welsh descent, and was a farmer and butcher. He emigrated to America from Wales and was an early settler of Wisconsin. The mother of our sub- ject, who bore the maiden name of Ann Morgan, was also of Welsh descent.

Mr. Lloyd was one of a family of fourteen chil- dren and was reared on his father's farm and at- tended the country school, and at the age of twen- ty-four years left home and began farming in Wis- consin on rented land, which he operated two years, and in the spring of 1883 went to Wells county and "squatted" on land in township 147, range 70. He built a shanty, 32×32 feet, with a partition through the center, and used the building for both dwelling and stable. He had three horses, a wagon and a breaking plow and lived alone the first two years, and in the spring of 1885 built a small house on the place. Prairie fire leaped a fire break three rods in width and went between the house and barn, and he had many ex- citing experiences with prairie fires during the early days. He now has a farm of eight hundred acres, most of which is under cultivation, and he has nine acres of forest trees thereon and some small fruits. His residence is a substantial and convenient structure, and with other buildings on the farm, including a barn with lean-to and a basement, granary, with basement for horse barn, and another granary, chicken house and carriage shed, he has all the improvements usual to farm life. Machinery

is of late pattern, and he has all necessary for the economical conduct of the place. He was engaged in the threshing business from 1884 to 1897, and in company with Richard Hugh and Xavier St. Jaque, owned the first threshing outfit operated in Wells county. Mr. Lloyd has engaged in cattle, sheep and grain raising and has one hundred and thirty head of cattle and eight hundred and twenty- five head of sheep, in partnership with R. J. Lyness, in McLean county. This ranch was established in 1890, thirty nules west of his home farm, and they own one section of land, on which good buildings have been placed.

Our subject was married, in the spring of 1885, to Miss Ida Lyness. Mrs. Lloyd was born and raised in Wisconsin. Her father, William Lyness, was born in Ireland and was a farmer in Wiscon- sin. Her mother is of Scotch-irish descent. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd, as follows: Edna, born June 28, 1886; Sarah, born September 17, 1888; Jennie, born No- vember 21, 1890; Harvey, born April 9, 1892; Gladys, born September 17, 1894; Ellsworth, born January 21, 1896; and Vera, born March 12, 1899. Mr. Lloyd was elected county commissioner in 1892 and again in 1895, and was an efficient officer dur- ing two. terms. He takes an active part in affairs of a public nature and has aided in the develop- ment of Wells county, and can recount many thrill- ing experiences during the early settlement of that region. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and politically is a Republican.

ALBERT A. BOOTH, of whom a portrait ap- pears on another page, is a thorough and skillful farmer, and a business man of more than ordinary ability, residing on section 24, Edna township, Barnes county, North Dakota. He has been an important factor in the upbuilding and development of the township, and is justly regarded as one of its most valued and useful citizens. He was born in Waukau, Wisconsin, October 17, 1850, and is a son of Elliott and Phercelia (Fitch) Booth, the former a native of Illinois, the latter of New York. Through- out life the father followed the occupation of min- ing. He was a man of more than ordinary ability and of considerable prominence in his community. He went to the Pacific slope during the gold excite- ment of 1849, and was one of the very first to go to Pikes Peak when the precious mineral was discovered there. He accumulated two fortunes, but lost them. He died in Stockton, California, in 1885, at the age of fifty-six years, and his wife passed away in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1873, at the age of forty-six.

During his childhood A. A. Booth removed with his parents to Syracuse, New York, in the schools. of which city he acquired his literary education, and he remained there until 1869, when he returned to Wisconsin. Locating in Fond du Lac, he worked at the machinist's trade there and at lumbering for

ALBERT A. BOOTH.

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more than three years in the employ of the Hamil- ton Finley Lumber Company. On May 24, 1879, he arrived in Barnes county, North Dakota, when this region was almost an unbroken prairie, and at once filed a claim on the place where he now resides. During that year more than twenty men settled in the vicinity of his homestead, but at present none of them are now living in the county with the pos- sible exception of one man. The township in which Mr. Booth located was then far from any railroad, which made it very inconvenient for the farmers to dispose of their produce and get supplies, but he persevered, and is today the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of fine farming land, which is well improved with good buildings and under a high state of cultivation. His farm is called the Edna stock farm, and he has a herd of thirty full blooded short horned cattle, registered, some of these ani- mals costing over four hundred dollars each. Mr. Booth has a large demand for young stock through- out the state.

On December 17, 1879, at Waupun, Wisconsin, Mr. Booth was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Carter, who was born in New York state in 1854, and they have become the parents of eight children, namely : Edna C., Alice A., Elizabeth E., Leila M., Albert A. and Blanch I. (twins), Frank S. and Roy C. Edna township was named in honor of the eldest daughter, who was the first white child born within its borders.

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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 129

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