Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 134

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 134

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Our subject was the sixth in a family of nine children, and was raised on a farm in his native land, and from his boyhood worked hard. He attended the country schools seven years, and came to Amer- ica with his parents and the family. After one week spent in Chicago they located on land which the father rented three miles west of Jamestown, North Dakota, and the father being in ill health the man- agement of the farm devolved upon our subject. The father and our subject and his sister went to Eddy county, North Dakota, in the fall of 1882 and entered claim to government land, and in 1883 the family took up residence thereon. The father had $500, but this sum did not reach far, when the father was ill and the country new, and supplies scarce. Our subject farmed from 1882 to 1893 with oxen, and picked string out of the straw pile for tugs, and burned cow chips for fuel five years Prairie fire destroyed everything on the place, with the exception of the sod barn in 1885, and our suh- ject and wife had nothing left but the clothing which they were wearing. Our subject worked for others during the winter of 1885 and 1886, and the follow- ing spring again ventured farming. He worked with a threshing machine in 1886, and his wife did the plowing and farm work at home. Crops were good in 1887 and his start was made, and he is now the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of land, four hundred and fifty acres of which are under cul- tivation, and on his home farm he has cultivated strawberries and trees, and otherwise furnished many

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of the luxuries of country life. He has a complete set of good farm buildings, and all machinery for the conduct of the place, and keeps eighteen head of horses, twenty head of cattle, and altogether has one of the best farms of the township.

Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss Mary Lorens, a native of Schlesswig, Germany. MIrs. Steinbach was sixten years of age. Nine children of North Dakota, and located there when Mrs. Steinbach was sixteen years of age. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steinbach, as fol- lows: Anton, Willie, Helen, Mary, Lizzie, Katie, Annie, Jacob and Caroline. Annie is now de- ceased. All of the children were born on the farm in Dakota. Mr. Steinbach has gained his present standing among the substantial men of his community single-handed, and has also supported his parents and made a home for them. The family are members of the Catholic church. Our subject has served on the township school board, and in political sentiment is a Democrat.

ROBERT L. JOHNSTON, one of the sub- stantial farmers of Kidder county, may be numbered among its pioneers, and deserves mention in the history of the early settlement of that section of North Dakota.

Mr. Johnston was born in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, in January, 1850. His father, Robert Johnston, was, in his younger days, a cotton-goods manufacturer. He was born in Scotland, and came to America while still a young man. The mother of our subject was Mary Ann Kirk, before her mar- riage. She was reared to womanhood in Philadel- phia. Her father, William Kirk, was a native of Scotland. The parents of our subject were mar- ried in Philadelphia. They became the parents of four children of whom Robert L. was the eldest. His parents moved to Ohio when he was a small child, and he was reared to manhood in Clinton county of that state, on a farm. He attended the public schools, and at the age of twenty-one years accompanied the family to Knox county, Missouri, where he began farming on his own account. In 1883 he went to Dakota, and located in Kidder county, taking up government land. For a time he worked for others, and in 1884 broke a portion of his own land, preparatory to putting in a crop. He met with many discouragements, common to pio- neers, and in 1885 lost fifty acres of his first wheat crop by prairie fire. However, he afterwards re- gained rapidly, as he has raised some excellent crops, that of 1891 yielding twenty-two bushels of wheat to the acre. The crop of 1882, while only yielding only fifteen bushels to the acre, sold at $1.06 to $1.10 per bushel and made him a large profit. He now has one hundred acres of land under a high state of cultivation, and about eighty acres in pasture for his stock. He has fifteen head of grade horses, and is well-to-do in a financial way.

Mr. Johnston takes an active interest in public

affairs, and is a stanch supporter of good govern- ment. Heis Democratic in party faith, and has twice been the nominee for county offices. He takes a strong interest in educational matters, and has been a member of the school board for several years. He is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, and is a popular citizen and valu- able member of the community in which he lives.

PETER MASTERSON. One of the carefully cultivated tracts of land in Ayr township is owned and operated by the gentleman above named and in his development of the place e has aided ma- terially in extending the agricultural interests of that locality and is regarded as one of the sub- tantial citizens of Cass county. He was one of the early settlers of Ayr township and has since de- voted himself to the cultivation and improvement of his estate and is now the owner of an excellent farm.

Our subject was born in Lower Canada, July 18, 1849, and was a son of Patrick and Mary (Smith) Masterson, who were natives of ireland. His par- ents emigrated to Canada about 1825 and his father was a cooper by trade and also followed farming. They removed to Michigan in 1868, where the mother died in 1887, and the father died in North Dakota at the home of our subject, in November, 1891. They were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, and our subject has one sister now living in North Dakota in Cass county.

Mr. Masterson was reared and educated in Can- ada and the United States, and spent about fifteen years in Allegan county, Michigan, where he fol- lowed farming. He went to Cass county, North Dakota, in 1880, and entered a homestead claim to the southwest quarter of section eighteen in Ayr township, and was among the first to settle there. His labors has been successful and he is now the owner of a good farm and enjoys the conveniences and comforts of country lite.

Our subject was married, in 1871, to Nancy J. Wiley, a native of Allegan county, Michigan. Mrs. Masterson's father was a native of Ireland and her mother was born in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Masterson are the parents of two children, Ed- ward M. and Carrie E. Mr. Masterson was one of the organizers of his township and has served as chairman of the board and also justice of the peace. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and is popular with the people among whom he resides.

GEORGE E. TOWLE, cashier of the First National Bank, of Park R.ver, is one of the able business men of that thriving town. He has ably conducted the anairs of the bank with which he is connected, and this is one of the solid financial institutions of the state.

Mr. Towle was born in Oxford county, Ontario,

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August 18, 1860, and spent his boyhood days there and received a good education in the common schools and a thorough business training. He went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, early in the 'Sos and about one year later located land in Rushford town- ship, where he settled and lived for some five years. He was then engaged by the First National Bank as bookkeeper and later assistant cashier, and re- inained in that position until 1890 when he assumed the duties of cashier, and has ably filled the po- sition and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people with whom he has to do. The First National Bank of Park River was organized in January, 1887, with W. H. Beecher, president, and Sidney Clark, cashier. Mr. Clark served in the capacity of cashier until 1890, when our subject assumed the position.

Mr. Towle was married in Park River, North Dakota, to Miss Florence M. Honey, daughter of C. H. Honey, ot that city, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this work. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Towle, named as follows : Ida M., Ruth M., James E. and Ellen E. Mr. Towle takes an active interest in church work, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Politically he is a Republican and is firm in his convictions.

HON. J. S. GREEN, ranchman and business man of Mandan, enjoys to an unusual extent the respect and esteem of the people of his community for the great aid he has given in the material de- velopment of Mandan and Morton county. Few men in the state are so well known as Mr. Green.

J. S. Green was born near Kansas City, Missouri, in 1860, and received his education in Quincy, Il- linois. He came to North Dakota in 1888 as rep- resentative of the Riverside Ranch Company, and took charge of their business at Mandan. However, the greater part of his life had been spent in the west, and he was thoroughly acquainted with the cattle business. He operated the company's ranch at Mandan for four years, then resigned and went into the business on his own account. Since that time he has continuously raised, bought and sold cattle, horses and sheep. He owns several different ranches in various parts of Morton county. During the summer of 1896 he and his partner, W. C. Badger, handled over forty thousand head of cattle and a proportionately large number of sheep. Since November 1, 1899. Mr. Green has handled over twelve thousand head of cattle, and since January, 1900, has handled three thousand horses.

Mr. Green organized the North Dakota Stock Growers' Association, and was seven years its secre- tary and treasurer. He resigned because of the great extent of his own business. He built the largest creamery west of the Missouri river in 1899, and is now the largest stockholder in the company. Their famous brand of butter, "The Little Hearts," has become known in every first-class market. The business has been very prosperous, and is now being enlarged to a one-thousand-cow creamery. Mr.

Green has had the management of this business since its organization, and its success is due to his energy and business management. He says "The possibil- ities of North Dakota as a dairy state are beyond the imagination. The wild grass that is a nattiral growth all over the state, produces milk in greater quantity and of better quality than any of the tame grasses of the eastern and southern states, the milk containing a higher per cent of butter fat."

Mrs. Green, whose maiden name was Miss Mar- garet Bernhard, is a native of Michigan, born in Saginaw, of that state. She is the daughter of one of the pioneer merchants of Saginaw. She is a lady of culture and refinement, having finished her edu- cation in Europe, and she is a most interesting con- versationalist, and speaks German, French and Eng- lish. She is president of the Library Association of Mandan, and is a most popular social leader. Mr. and Mrs. Green have two children. Their home is elegant and refined, and a cordial welcome is ex- tended to all who find themselves within its doors.

Mr. Green is a Republican in political faith, and has taken an active and influential part in the politics of the state. He has attended practically every state convention, and was elected to the state senate in 1896 and served one term. It was through his influence that the state fair was located at Mandan and an appropriation secured for its establishment. He is a Mason, and has taken the higher degrees of that order. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a great traveler, having crossed the Pacific ocean several times.

He does not like in-door life, and his home and office are principally in the saddle or on the trains. He is liberal, kind-hearted and always ready to help a friend in need. His popularity among the people is well deserved, not only for these qualities, but for the energy and public spirit he has always displayed in behalf of his community and county.

ESTEN HALVORSEN, deceased, who, in the later years of his life, lived in retirement in the city of Hillsboro, was for many years actively engaged in agricultural pursuits and owned eight hundred acres of choice land in Traill county. He was also interested in other farming property with others and in a feed and sale stable in Hillsboro. Every enterprise to which he directed his attention met with success and he was one of the wealthy and higlily-esteemed pioneer settlers of Eldorado township. A portrait of this worthy man is shown 011 another page.

Our subject was born in Christiana Stift, Nor- way, April 28, 1851, and was the oldest son and third child born to Halvor and his second wife, Oline Halvorson. When he was about four years of age his mother died and when sixteen years of age he came to America and went direct to Clayton county, Iowa, where his half-brother resided, and made his home there for about ten years, working at farm labor and dealing in horses. He attended the English

ESTEN HALVORSEN (Deceased).

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schools for some time and became thoroughly ac- quainted with the American ways and the English language. He invested in draft horses in Iowa, in the spring of 1877 and drove them overland to Caledonia, Traill county, North Dakota, and made a profitable sale. He went to Dakota again in the spring of 1878 and filed claim to land in section 10, of Eldorado township, and erected a small frame building on his farm and therein established his first home. He soon afterward purchased an ad- ditional eighty acres of land and began raising wheat and met with remarkable success in that line. His farm was equipped with modern appli- ances and improvements and his outbuildings in- clude an elevator of twelve thousand bushels ca- pacity. He leased his farm in 1899 and removed to Hillsboro in order to provide educational ad- vantages for his children. He owned a half inter- est in the Halvorsen & Howard wheat farm, com- prising about eleven hundred acres of land, and devoted his attention chiefly to overseeing the work of the place, while his individual interests covered eight hundred acres of land. He was instrumental in inducing many settlers to locate near his farm from Iowa and has assisted in developing a fine ag- ricultural district in Eldorado and surrounding townships.

Our subject was married, in 1878, to Miss Inga Olson, and with his bride emigrated to Dakota overland. Mrs. Halvorsen died in 1884. Three children were born to this union, as follows: May, Henry and Lena. Mr. Halvorsen was married to Miss Annie Grandin in 1890. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Halvorsen, as follows: Ida, Josie, Lillie and Esther. Our subject took an active interest in matters of local importance since residing in Traill county and was widely and favorably known. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, he was a Republican. Mr. Halvorsen's death occurred March 16, 1900, after a brief illness.

HON. ROBERT B. BOYD, one of the well-to- do farmers of Wheatland township, is yet in the prime of vigorous manhood, and is attaining a prominent position as a citizen and farmer. He resides on section 6 and is extensively ·engaged in grain raising, and operates three sections of land. He is a pioneer settler of North Dakota, and is widely known for his labors for the public good.

Our subject was born at Kinsordine, Bruce county, Ontario, Canada, September 25, 1862, and was a son of Andrew K. and Margaret ( Newcomb) Boyd, the former a native of Scotland, and the latter of Preston, Canada. His father was born at Ayr- shire, Scotland, in 1826, and was reared and edu- cated in his native isle, and there learned the shoe- maker's trade. He emigrated to America in 1840 and engaged in the shoe trade at Paris, Canada, and later in the hotel business, then afterward fol- lowed general merchandising in Canada. He went

to North Dakota March 16, 1879, and entered claim to the southeast quarter of section 6 in Wheatland township as a homestead, and the same year erected a small frame house which still serves as the home of the family. He operated the farm and resided there until his death in 1880. He was married in Canada, and three sons and six daughters were born of the union, as follows: Hiram, residing in Cass county ; Robert B .: John, now residing in Washington ; Jane, now Mrs. John Hay ; Elizabeth, who married Thomas Lockett and is now deceased ; Maggie, now Mrs. A. Campbell, of Canada; Nellie, now Mrs. A. S. Bilton, of Oregon; Emma, now Mrs. W. T. York, of Oregon, and Anna, now Mrs. F. W. Powlinson, of Cass county. Mr. Boyd is a member of the Presbyterian church and is an exemplary citizen. He assisted in the organization of the township in which he lived, but did not ac- cept any public office during his career.

Robert B. Boyd was reared and educated in Canada and went with his parents to North Dakota. He entered claim to the southeast quarter of section 6 in Wheatland township as a homestead, and now owns the land and has added valuable improve- ments thereon. He owns one section and a quarter of land and operates three sections, and averages a yield of fifteen to twenty thousand bushels of grain annually.

Mr. Boyd was elected to the state legislature in 1896, and his efficient work and popularity are best evidenced by the fact that he was returned to that office in 1898 and is now representing the eleventh district. He has filled various township offices, and is widely and favorably known. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he is a Republican, and adheres to the principles of his party.

OLE CLEMENTSON is a farmer residing on section 30, Pleasant View township, and, like so many of his compatriots, has been an invaluable agent in the reclamation of the Dakota prairies. He is a hard worker, a careful farmer, and an honest and upright man. He has very largely made him- self the forehanded and successful farmer that he is.

Mr. Clementson was born in Norway July 5. 1851, and a son of Clement and Ingeborg (Gun- derson) Thorgeson. They were farmer folk and dwelt on the farm Dramincort where the young Ole was reared according to the old country fashion. His father is still living, while the mother died in 1874. In 1861 the family came to Minnesota and settled first in Fillmore and afterward in Freeborn county. There Mr. Clementson grew to manhood, and went to work as a farm laborer. He was in the employment of one farmer eleven years, and became very proficient in western agriculture. After that time he was married, when he rented land and farmed for himself. In the spring of 1881 with a little herd of stock he came to Dakota and settled

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on the land where he is now found. He built a new shanty 12x14 feet, and this, with very slight addi- tions, was at his home for the next ten years. His crops have been good from the first, and with the exception of the effects of hail storms he has never failed to harvest rich returns for all his work. He is a Republican, and is in favor of prohibition as the settled policy for the state. He is a man of some prominence at home, and has been elected to local positions on several occasions. In 1894 he was township assessor, and has been since that time. He has been chairman of the township board for several years. He takes an active interest in all matters relating to the school and township interests, and conscientiously seeks the public welfare. He was married, in 1873, to Miss Susan Oleson, and is the father of seven children: Carl, Annie, Ida, Oscar and Tosten (deceased), Tina and Emily.

J. MORLEY WYARD, publisher and editor of the "Park River Gazette," has become an influential journalist in Walsh county and North Dakota, and lias made a success of newspaper work, a profession to which few find themselves adapted.

Mr. Wyard came to Park River in September, 1889, and established a newspaper, which he called "The Witness." This paper he published until 1891, when he purchased the "Gazette," and com- bined the two, calling the new paper the "Gazette- Witness." Under this name he published the paper for about four years, when, dropping the "Witness," he continued the publication under the name of "The Park River Gazette."

The "Gazette" espouses the cause of the Re- publican party, and has had much influence in the shaping of the policy and affairs of the party in Walsh county. Its circulation has passed the six hundred mark, and is destined to become the most widely circulated paper in the county. Mr. Wyard is entitled to much credit for the able management and strength he has displayed in the newspaper work.

MICHAEL MOTSCHENBACHER, one of the earliest pioncers of Pontiac township, Cass county, resides on section 28, and is the owner of a most excellent farm on the Maple river, comprising five quarter-sections of land. He is a man of much abil- ity and although he went to Dakota during the early times when discouragements met the settler on every hand, he did not waver from his purpose, and is now possessed of a good income and wide reputation as a farmer of excellent characteristics.

Our subject was born in Washington county, Wisconsin. His father, George Motschenbacher, was a native of Germany and served in the German army. He was a shoemaker by trade, and for a time engaged in the hotel business in Arcadia, Wis- consin, and his latter years were spent on a farm. Our subject's parents were married in Wisconsin,

and his mother, whose maiden name was Kunigunda Raphan, was a native of the German empire. Four- teen children were born to this worthy couple, seven sons and seven daughters, our subject being the fourth in order of birth. At the age of nine years he removed with his parents to Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, and settled in the village of Arcadia, where he remained and attended school until the late 'zos, when he removed with his par- ents to a farm in the same county. He went west in 1880 and filed on the northeast quarter of section 28, in Pontiac township, Cass county, in 1881, since which time he has held the land, and now resides on the same quarter-section. During the first two years of his life in Dakota he worked on the great Dalrymple farm near Casselton, during the summer season, and in 1882 he began breaking his own land on his homestead, and the following year took up permanent residence there. He is now regarded as one of the most successful farmers of southwest Cass county.

Our subject was married in Pontiac township, in 1886, to Miss Emilie Petrich, a native of Ger- many, who was born in 1870, and came to America when twelve years of age. Seven children, all sons, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Motschenbacher, named as follows: Fred, Werner, Clarence, Rhine- hart, Phillip, Lawrence and George. Mr. Motschen- bacher has been called upon to serve his township in various offices of trust, and is the present township clerk, justice of the peace and district school treas- urer. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Modern Woodmen of America. He votes the independent ticket in political affairs, and is a man who is earnest in his convictions for right and jus- tice.

IVER THOMPSON, one of the most promi- nent and successful farmers of Enger township, Steele county, is possessed of an energetic character and a capacity for well-directed labor which have placed him foremost in his calling. He owns a tract of seven hundred acres, and his handsome resi- dence on section 18 furnishes every comfort and many of the luxuries of life. A portrait of Mr. Thompson will be found on another page.

Our subject was born in Hedalen, Walders, Nor- way, September 12, 1855, and was a son of Torgrem and Guniheld (Hagen) Fecher. The mother now makes her home with our subject. The family came to America, in 1865, and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, and the father died about four months after their arrival in this country, leaving his family, consisting of his wife, his father, and six young chil- dren without support. Our subject was the eldest of the children, and they were very poor. He se- cured work at whatever he could do, and for about six years his entire earnings he contributed toward the support of the family. He received a limited education, two or three terms sufficing. When nineteen years of age he bought a farm of eighty

IVER THOMPSON.

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acres in Floyd county, Iowa, and took his mother and smaller children there to reside with him. He was confronted by hard times and lost his property' on account of debts, and in the spring of 1881 gath- ered his personal effects and went to Dakota, and after some time spent in looking for a location, set- tled on section 18, in Enger township, Steele county. His mother and family joined him in the spring of 1882, and made their home in a 12×14-foot shanty. Here success attended him, and his farm work was soon on a firm basis. He worked early and late and accomplished much in a short time, and has since prospered. His residence which he now occupies was erected in 1897, and bespeaks good taste in its design and appointments.

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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 134

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