Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 132

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

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

The subject of this sketch was reared and edu- cated in his native land, and came to the United States with his parents in 1868. He resided for a time in Houston county, Minnesota, and then, in 1871, removed to Cass county, Dakota territory, and located on section 7, Pleasant township, where he still makes his home. He secured land in its wild state, and began vigorously to bring it under subjec- tion, and his success was remarkable. He has his farm well improved, and under a high state of cul- tivation, and few farms of equal yielding capacity can be found in Cass county.

In 1869 Mr. Stensrud was married, to Miss Marie Johnson. Mrs. Stensrud is also a native of Norway, and to them have been born the following children : George E., John A., Minnie B.and Emma, all of whom are living, and form a pleasant family circle. The parents and children are all members of the Lutheran Synod church. Mr. Stensrud has always taken an intelligent interest in the affairs of good government and in educational matters. He has served two years as a member of the township board, and as a member of the school board for many years. He is an exemplary citizen and sub- stantial property owner of the county. He enjoys the friendship and esteem of a large circle of ac- quaintances, and has proved himself worthy of every trust that has been confided to him.

JOHN W. MITCHELL, the pioneer merchant of Wheatland and Cass county, is a man of sound judgment and this characteristic, together with close observation and integrity of word and deed, has placed him among the well-to-do and highly es- teemed citizens of that region. He enjoys an ex- tensive patronage and conducts one of the best general merchandise establishments in the county. He is also proprietor of a fine farm near there in Mapleton township, and operates two thousand acres of land annually, and also deals extensively in stock and grain.

Our subject was born in Simco county, Ontario, Canada, January 1, 1853, and is a son of John and Jane (Lee) Mitchell, both natives of Ireland. His parents emigrated to Canada about 1829, when they were children, and were married in Canada, where the mother died and the father now lives en- gaged in farming. Three sons and two daughters were born to them, and our subject and his broth- ers are the only ones of the family in the United States.

John W. Mitchell was reared and educated in Canada on a farm, and in 1875 began general mer- chandise business, which he continued there until 1879, and then removed to Manitoba and engaged in business there for a short time, and in August of the same year went to Mapleton, Cass county, North Dakota, and erected a small store and followed mer- cantile business, becoming the first merchant of the county. He continued at Mapleton until fire de- stroycd the town in 1887, and then went to Wheat-

land in March, 1888, and purchased a business in a general store which he still conducts. He erected a fine brick block in 1891, and does a business amount- ing to seventy-five thousand dollars yearly. In every enterprise which he has undertaken he has prospered, and is today one of the substantial busi- ness men of Cass county.

Our subject was married, in Ontario, Canada, in February, 1884, to Susie Johnston, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are the parents of five children, as follows: Maggie J., Arthur G., George W., Harmoure and Alice. Mr. Mitchell has been called upon to serve his community in various ways, and has served four years on the board of trustees of the state hospital for insane. He as- sisted in the organization of Mapleton township, and has aided in the development of Cass county and well merits success.

HON. OLE G. NELSON. Among the better class of agriculturists of Traill county, whose active public spirit and intelligent worth are recognized by the people, the gentleman above named is deserv- ing of a foremost rank. He is one of the most ex- tensive farmers of that locality, and his home in section 8, of Morgan township, is one of comfort, while aside from gaining a competence he has also acquired an enviable reputation as a citizen. A portrait of Mr. Nelson appears on another page.

Our subject was born in Rock county, Wiscon- sin, December 9, 1858, and was the oldest in a fam- ily of six children born to Thore and Kjirstine (Tandberg) Nelson. His parents were natives of Norway, and are now residents of Stewartsville, Minnesota. The father settled in Olmsted county, Minnesota, during the early days of that region's settlement, and followed farming on his father's estate.

Mr. Nelson completed his education by a busi- ness course at Rochester, Minnesota, and in the spring of 1881 went to Traill county, North Dakota, where his father, in 1879, had taken land. The buildings of our subject's home now stand on that tract, which was relinquished to him. He took three cows, a team of horses, wagon, and two head of young stock to the pioneer home and had about one hundred dollars in cash, but this rapidly disappeared in the erection of a 12x14-foot shanty, which was six feet high. This building has since been con- verted into a chicken house, and Mr. Nelson re- marks that he "sided it up and plastered it, and made it fit for the chickens." He resided in the house as it was built for five years, and then added more room and resided therein until 1889, when his present comfortable residence was constructed. He now owns one of the largest farms of the township, and six hundred and forty acres of land is under cultivation, and three and a half acres are devoted to a fine grove of trees. Surface water is abundant, and the farm is admirably adapted to general farm- ing.

HON. OLE G. NELSON.

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Our subject was married, in 1879, to Miss Gulbjor Hanson, a native of Norway. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, as follows: Theodore, born January 26, 1880, now a student at Mayville Normal ; Clarence, born Au- gust 18, 1881, also a student at Mayville Normal ; Mina, born May 18, 1883; Alfred, born November 14, 1884; Elmer, born May 20, 1886; Clara, born December 30, 1887; Ida, born September 20, 1889; Emma, born December 12, 1891 ; Olevia, born De- cember 20, 1893; Georgiana, born July 24, 1895; and Stella, born February 28, 1898. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Lutheran church. He was elected a member of the board of supervisors soon after taking up his residence in what was then Garfield township, now Morgan township, and in 1885, upon organization of Morgan township, he became first assessor. He was rapidly pushed to the front in all public affairs of county and state, and in 1898 was elected a representative in the state legislature. While a member of that body he served on the fol- lowing committees: Appropriations, ways and means, municipal corporations, forestry and educa- tion. He has taken an active interest in school affairs, and enjoys popularity for his earnest work in his community.

MILTON D. KING. This gentleman is one of the most extensive farmers of Burleigh county, and is widely known as a citizen of honest industry and excellent business capacity. He was born on a farm in Franklis county, New York, in 1870.

The father of our subject, Chester King, was a farmer by occupation, and he served four years in the Civil war and received a gunshot wound after he had surrendered to the enemy, from the effects of which he died in August, 1898. The grandfather of our subject, John B. King, also served in the Civil war and was wounded and died in Libby prison.

Our subject's father was a contractor for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and supplied ties for the construction of the road, and he went to Minesota in 1873 and lived at Aiken for some time, and in the fall of 1875 moved with his family to Fort Berthold, North Dakota, and he was Indian farmer there two years, and had many experiences with the red men. He removed to Bismarck in 1877, and conducted the Capital Hotel there two years, and then began farming, and in 1880 moved his family to the new home fifteen miles east of Bis- marck, since which time our subject has resided on the home farm. The father conducted the dairy business and engaged extensively in that line, and our subject now keeps from twenty to thirty cows for that purpose. He also engages in stock raising extensively, and has one hundred and forty head of cattle, and since 1895 our subject has conducted and had full charge of the farm. The home farm originally consisted of three hundred and twenty acres, but has been increased to six hundred and forty acres, of which four hundred acres is culti-

vated, and Mr. King operates from five to six hun- dred acres of land. He has a complete set of build- ings on the home farm, and of such nature as entitle it to rank among the best improved farms of Bur- leigh county. he has sixty horses, good machinery and conducts a model farm.

Mr. King attended Carleton College at North- field, Minnesota, in 1889, '91, '92 and 95, and then assumed management of the home farm. He was married, September 27, 1898, to Miss Mabel Mur- rey, who was born at White Earth, Minnesota, and was raised among the Indians. Her father, A. K. Murrey, was a,farmer, and was of Scotch-Irish de- scent. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. King, whose birth is dated July 20, 1899. Our sub- ject has held numerous township omces, and is prominent in local affairs. He and wife are mem- bers of the Congregational church and are highly esteemed in the communty in which they make their home.

HON. ROGER ALLIN. The highest gift within the power of the people of North Dakota was bestowed upon this gentleman in the fall of 1894, and he served one term as governor with honor and distinction. He now resides on section 22, in Fertile township; Walsh county, where he lo- cated in the early days of the settlement of that locality, and his active public career and honorable service have gained him a high position in the minds of the people.

Mr. Allin was born in Devonshire, England, De- cember 18, 1848. His father, Roger Allin, died in England, and the mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Walter. She married a second time, and became the wife of William Bond, and when our subject was three years of age the family came to Oshawa, Ontario, where they set- tled on a farm, and there our subject grew to man- had and received a common school education and followed agricultural pursuits. He resided there until 1880 when he went to Michigan and after a short stay there came to North Dakota, in April, 1881, and entered claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fertile (then Pembina) county, where he has since resided, and has followed farm- ing with marked success. He has erected a com- plete set of commodious and substantial buildings on his farm, and otherwise provided for the com- fort of the inhabitants thereon and the economical conduct of the place, and he now owns and culti- vates two hundred and forty acres of land. Upon the organization of Fertile township in 1882, he was elected justice of the peace and held that office sev- eral years, and he has since served in all the im- portant offices of his township. He was elected to the territorial council in 1886 and re-elected in 1888, and the following year was elected a member of the constitutional convention, and in the fall of 1889 was elected to the state senate and served one term in that capacity. In 1891 he was elected

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lieutenant-governor of North Dakota, and served one term and in the fall of 1894 was elected gover- nor. During his term of office he conducted the affairs of the state judiciously and brought credit to himself and the state. He has always acted with the Republican party and has been an active worker in that party in the state of North Dakota. He takes a hearty interest in church work and is iden- tified with the Presbyterian denomination, of which he has been a member the greater part of his life, and is one of the ruling elders of the church.

Our subject was married in Grand Forks, North Dakota, March 22, 1882, to Miss Isabella Mckenzie, a native of Canada. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Allin named Isabella, who died in infancy. Mr. Allin was appointed by the late Governor Briggs as a regent in the Agricultural College at Fargo. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of For- esters.

P. S. PATTERSON. Among the well regulated farms of Lake township, which have added materi- ally to the wealth of Cass county, that owned by the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article should be mentioned. Mr. Patterson is a pioneer settler of that region, and has striven to bring his farm to a high state of cultivation and is now the owner of a remunerative tract, which he devotes to general farming. He is a tradesman, a cooper by trade, and his success as a farmer has been due to his most earnest efforts and strict integrity.

Our subject was born in La Grange, Maine, March 4, 1850, and was a son of Brock and Syrena (Stinson) Patterson. They were natives of Maine, and the father died there, and was a farmer by oc- cupation.

Mr. Patterson was reared in his native state and received his education there and remained in Maine until 1875, when he went to Boston and remained there until 1882. He then went to Cass county, North Dakota, and entered a homestead claim to land in section 14, of Lake township. He has fol- lowed farming thereon since and is now the owner of one half-section of choice land.

Our subject has one son, Edwin C., who assists his father on the farm. Mr. Patterson has devoted his maturer years to the pursuit of farming, and has become intimately associated with the agricultural interests of Cass county, and enjoys a high standing among his associates. He is thorough and indus- trious in his farming and loyal and determined in his adherence to the right and to his friends.

HON. KNUTE O. BROTNOV. Few young men have attained the prominent position accorded this gentleman in North Dakota. He has served as a member of the state legislature two terms, and his efficient service and oneness of purpose commend him to all alike, and he enjoys increasing popularity.

He has a pleasant home in section 32 of Grafton township, and is proprietor of a fine farm.

Our subject was born in Norway, September 25, 1885, and when about three years of age came with his mother to America in 1869, his father having died in Norway. After his arrival in this country a home was made in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and they remained there until 1878 and then removed to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and lived there about one year. Mr. Brotnov came to North Dakota with his mother late in the fall of 1879 and settled on section 32, in Grafton township, Walsh county, where he has since resided. He was one of the first settlers of Walsh county, and has followed farming there continuously since that time. He now owns nearly four hundred acres of choice land, and has erected a complete set of substantial buildings, and has a good farm.

Our subject was married in Grafton, North Da- kota, December 19, 1896, to Miss Sophia Kringstad, who is a native of Norway. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brotnov, upon whom they have be- stowed the name of Stella M. Mr. Brotnov has filled most of the offices in Grafton township, and served as assessor of the township when he was but twenty years of age. In the fall of 1896 he was elected to the North Dakota legislature, and re- elected in the fall of 1898 on the Independent ticket. He holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Independent Order of Foresters.

SAMUEL L. LINN, one of the earliest pioneer settlers of Sherbrooke township, is the present sher- iff of Steele county, and is a man of many estima- ble traits of character. He is possessed of a good capacity for well-directed labor, which has placed him among the foremost farmers of his vicinity, and his home farm in section 24 makes a fine show- ing as to improvements and a well-chosen location.

Our subject was born in Green county, Wiscon- sin, April 24, 1854, and was the third in a family of six children born to John J. and Taran L. (Putten) Linn. His parents were both natives of Norway, and are now residents of Steele county, North Da- kota, where they and one daughter and our subject and wife located in 1882. The father and son took land adjoining and our subject assumed charge of the farms, and his was the first family to pass a winter in Sherbrooke township. He is now the owner of eight hundred acres of land along the middle branch of the Goose river, and an abundance of good water is a feature of the place, making it admirably adapted to general farming.

Our subject was married, in 1878, to Miss Car- rie C. Domholt. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Linn, as follows: Tilda B., deceased ; Henry J., deceased ; Henrietta J .; Julia M., who was the first child born in Sherbrooke township; Isabel E .; Clara S .; Benjamin H .; Thomas J., and Ger- trude H. A family group portrait appears on an- other page. Mr. Linn was elected on the first

SAMUEL L. LINN AND FAMILY.

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board of trustees, on the organization of the town- · ship of Sherbrooke, and he has been active in pub- lic affairs. He was elected county sheriff in 1888 and served two terms, and in 1894 was again elected to that office and served two terms. John J. Hogan was elected to that office in 1898, but later resigned his position, and our subject was appointed to fill the unexpired term. He is a brave and efficient of- ficer, and enjoys the confidence of the people. He is a stanch and influential Republican, and is well known throughout the county.

HON., HERMAN KROEGER. As an ex- soldier and pioneer settler of New Salem, this gentle- man is well known in Morton county. He has a fine farin in township 140, range 85, and has gath- ered around him the comforts of rural life. He is a native of Germany, and was born in Westphalen January 4, 1841.

The father of our subject, Herman Kroeger, was a farmer, and the mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Margaret Vieker. In a family of six children our subject was the eldest and he was raised on a farm and attended the public school, and in 1857 came to America. He landed at New Orleans and went direct to Iowa, and learned the cooper's trade at Burlington, that state, and in 1859 went to St. Louis. He worked there six months at his trade, and in the fall of 1859 went to Randolph county, Illinois, and worked on a farm there until 1861. He enlisted in Company M, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, September 3, 1861, and served under Gen- eral Pope in Misouri, and General Halleck in Mis- sissippi, and later under Grant in northern Missis- sippi and western Tennessee. He was engaged at the siege of New Madrid, Island No. 10, Farming- ton, Mississippi, Boonville, Iuka, Coffeyville, Palo Alto, Birmingham, and the celebrated Grierson raid. He re-enlisted in 1864 and resisted Hood's advance to Nasliville, at the battles of Franklin and Nashville. He participated in over sixty engagements and missed but one engagement in which his company participated. He was discharged from the service in November, 1865, after something over four long years of active service.

After the war Mr. Kroeger returned to Illinois and in 1866 went to Burlington, Iowa, where he followed farming, and continued there until 1883, when he joined the New Salem colony and went to North Dakota. He took government land in town- ship 140, range 85, and settled on the southeast quar- ter of section 28. He had good crops the first year and engages in diversified farming with much success. He has a tract of four hundred and eighty acres, with all good buildings, machinery, and improvements, and keeps from seventy to eighty head of cattle and has a well stocked and well equipped farm.

Our subject was married, in 1868, to Miss Lonisa Ellerhoff, a native of the same town as our subject. Her father, Charles Ellerhoff, was a 39

farmer, and her three brothers served in the Ger- man army. Mrs. Kroeger came to America in 1868. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kroeger, and are as follows: Louisa, Her- man, Anna, Carrie, Wiliam, Fred, Charlie, deceased, and Martha. Mr. Kroeger was elected state rep- resentative in 1894 and re-elected in 1896 and served two terms and did very efficient work for the welfare of his community. He has held num- erous township, civil and school offices, and is the present chairman of the school board. He is a Republican in political faith and attends county conventions of his party. He is a member of the Evangelical church and the G. A. R.

CARL R. JOHNSON. This gentleman has been identified with the farming interests of Walsh county for over twenty years, and during that time has always been found standing for right and jus- tice and has gathered about him a host of true and loving friends. He has a pleasant estate, well im- proved, and has made a success of his vocation, and has a comtortable competence to tide him through his declining years.

Our subject was born in Sweden, July 16, 1851, and was reared and educated in his native country. He spent his early business life there, and in 1880 emigrated to America, thinking the advantages for an energetic and intelligent man were more favor- able than in his native land, and he has made a suc- cess of his career since taking up his residence in North Dakota. Soon after reaching the United States, in the spring of the year he went to North Dakota, and in the fall of the same year entered a homestead claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 9, of Martin township, where he has since held continuous residence. He has erected first-class buildings on his homestead farm, and conducts the place on modern and most economical plans, and now owns and operates three hundred and twenty acres of good land.

Our subject was married in Grafton, North Da- Dakota, December 3, 1885, to Miss Mary W. Nel- son. Mrs. Johnson was born in Sweden, Novem- ber 7, 1857. Six children complete the family circle, and are named in order of birth as fol- lows: Hulda A., Carl R., Jr., Holger J., Ellen A., Gerhard F. and Adolph R. One son died in in- fancy. Mr. Johnson is devoted to his farm work, and takes little part in public affairs. He is intelli- gent and progressive, and his home is well kept and furnished with good taste and in the accumula- tion of this property Mr. Johnson has been an im- portant factor in the development and growth of the great agricultural resources of the state.

WILLIAM H. FURLONG. Probably no man has been more intimately connected with the farm- ing interests of Cass county than the gentleman whose name heads our present article. He is a

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resident of section 4, in Rochester township, and conducts a farm of four hundred acres. He has all improvements and good buildings and is regarded as one of the solid men of his community and a citizen who commands the respect of his fellowmen.

Our subject was born at Delphi, Onondaga county, New York, October 27, 1859. His parents, James and Martha Furlong, were natives of Canada, and his father was a wagon-maker by trade and later engaged in farming. He went to New York about 1852, and during the Civil war enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served in Virginia, and was discharged from the service for disability. He died in New York, in August, 1899, and the mother survives him. They were the parents of two sons and three daughters. One son is in New York, and one daughter is deceased.

Mr. Furlong was reared in New York and edu- cated there and remained in the state until 1885 and followed farming. In that year he went to Cass county, North Dakota, and entered a homestead claim to land in section 4, of Rochester township, where he has since resided. He has added to his possessions as circumstances would permit and is now the fortunate owner of four hundred acres of choice land which furnishes a good income.

Our subject was married in Grafton, North to Margaret Vogelgsang. Mrs. Furlong was born at Fulton, New York, and was a daughter of Fred- 'erick and Margaret (Ader) Vogelgsang. Her father was a soldier in the Civil war, served in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, volunteer Infantry, and is now deceased. The mother resides in California. Mr. and Mrs. Furlong are the parents of five children, as follows : Bessie P., May M., Beecher J., Lucy V., and Lena G. Mr. Furlong is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America, and in politics is a Democrat. He has filled various local offices, including town clerk, as- sessor, and school clerk, and is known throughout that locality as a worthy citizen.

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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 132

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