Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 138

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

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GEORGE W. WILSON, editor and proprie- tor of the "Ward County Reporter," is one of the pioneer settlers of northern North Dakota, as well as a pioneer newspaper of the great Northwest.

Mr. Wilson was born in Baltimore, Maryland. January 28, 1858. He is the eldest of a family of six children born to Samnel E. and Martha ( Davis) Wilson, both natives of Maryland. His father was of Scotch-English descent, and his mother of Eng- lish parentage. His boyhood days were spent in the states of Maryland, Kentucky and Indiana at various employments, but principally farming. He was given a high school education and a short course at an academy in Ohio. In 1880 he came to Da- kota, and in the spring of 1884 took a claim near Winona. In 1887 he came to Minot and secured employment on the Great Northern Railroad. In the fall of that year, in partnership with L. D. Mc- Gahan, he started the 'Williston Beacon," and con- ducted that paper until April, 1889. He then re- turned to Minot and established the "Minot Jour- nal," the first issue of which was April 27, 1889. In 1893 he sold this paper and purchased the "Towner Independent," of which he continued as proprietor three years, onc and a half years of that time being its editor. In July, 1895, he again came

to Minot and established the "Minot Mirror." its first issue appearing July 5, 1895. He conducted this paper one and a half years, and in January, 1897, he purchased the "Burlington Reporter." now the "Ward County Reporter." This paper was established at Burlington by J. L. Colton, in June, 1886. Colton sold it to C. A. Johnson, of whom Mr. Wilson purchased it. Colton removed the pa- per to Minot and changed the name to "The Ward County Reporter," in 1892. Two years later the entire plant was destroyed by fire, being a total loss. The proprietor, C. A. Johnson, purchased the "Minot Journal" plant, and continued the paper under the name of "The Ward County Reporter- Journal." In 1896 the name was changed to "The Ward County Reporter." This paper is the oldest in the county, and has the largest circulation. It also has in connection a complete job plant, where first class job work is done. Mr. Wilson has made a success of newspaper work. He also es- tablished the "Williston "Tribune" in October, 1892, and his career in the newspaper field has been a remarkable one. He was a pioneer of that portion of the state, and exercised the powers of governor in the organization of Williams county, and had much to do with the directing of the pol- icy and development of the county.

Mr. Wilson was married, in 1888, to Miss Clara J. Corbett, daughter of J. C. Corbett, an employe of the Great Northern Railway. Mrs. Wilson taught school in Williston, and is an ac- complished and educated lady. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson two children have been born, namely, Florence M. and Edna H., both born in Minot. In political faith Mr. Wilson is a Republican, and has taken a very active part in public affairs. He was appointed city anditor of Minot in 1890, and was elected justice of the peace of McHenry coun- ty in 1894. In 1898 he carried Ward county as candidate for secretary of state, and also has the endorsement of the county for the same office this year (1900). He is chairman of the Republican county central committee, and an active party worker. He is a member of the Knights of Pyth- ias, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, and of the Woodmen of the World. He has represented the local lodge of the Knights. of Pythias in the grand lodge of the state, as also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1899 and 1900. He is prominent in fraternal matters, and a popular and genial gentleman. He is well known throughout the county, and enjoys the con- fidence and esteem of all.

CHRIST HOFFMANN. Among the sturdy and stalwart citizens of Richland county, whose place of birth was in the far-away German Father- and, and who, with the industry and thrift so nat- ural to the people of their native land, are rapidly progressing toward that financial condition so much coveted by all, is the subject of this personal his-

CHRIST HOFFMANN AND WIFE.

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tory-a well-to-do agriculturist living on section 12, Mooreton township.

Mr. Hoffmann was born in Germany, January 5, 1849, and was reared upon a farm in his native land. In 1873 he emigrated to America, landing in Baltimore, Maryland, in the spring of that year. He first located in Chicago, Illinois, where he was employed as a baker for three years, and then went to St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm for the same length of time. In the spring of 1878 he came to what is now North Dakota, and took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land on section 12, Mooreton town- ship, Richland county, but which at that time form- ed a part of Centre township. To his original tract he has added from time to time as his financial re- sources have increased until he now has a fine farm of four hundred acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings. He has taken quite an active and com- mendable interest in public affairs and is now most efficiently serving as township supervisor.

On the 25th of November, 1880, in Richland county, Mr. Hoffmann was united in marriage with Miss Mary Zech, who was born in Germany, Oc- tober 11, 1852, and came to the United States in 1879. They have become the parents of two chil- dren, namely: Paulina and Carl. A portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann appears on another page.

GEORGE STEAD. Among the well-to-do agriculturists of Grand Forks county, who entered Dakota in pioneer times and have remained to en- joy the fruits of their labors may be mentioned Mr. Stead. He now has a pleasant home and finely improved farm in Turtle River township, and has been a resident of that locality for over twenty years, serving his community and building for himself an enviable name.

Our subject was born in Yorkshire, England, May 18, 1828, and was a son of William and Eliza- beth (Weldon) Stead. His parents were natives also of Yorkshire, England, and emigrated to Can- ada in 1832 and passed their lives there. They were the parents of two sons and three daughters, of whom our subject is the only one in the United States.

Mr. Stead passed his boyhood and early man- hood in Canada and there received his education, and then operated a saw-mill and grist-mill. He spent the years of 1853 and 1854 in California, en- gaged in mining, going to the country via Cape Horn. He later returned to Canada and remained there until the fall of 1879, when he went to Grand Forks county, North Dakota. He at once pur- chased the land on which he has since resided, and began the improvement of the place and to oper- ate the land. He now possesses three quarter-sec- tions of choice land, and has met with success in general farming, and now has a good home and a comfortable competence.

Our subject was married in Canada, in 1854. to Elizabeth Henderson, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Stead are the parents of six children who are still living, and are named as follows : Martha, William, Ellen, George H., Jane A. and John L. Mr. Stead has filled various local offices, and is a gentleman of active public spirit, and en- joys the esteem of his fellow men.

WILLIAM HORNE. An honorable posi- tion among the farmers of Dry Lake township, Ramsey county, is willingly accorded this gentle- man by his associates. He occupies one of the well-developed farms of the county, and is greatly respected in the community where he has spent the past seventeen years of his life, and where he is passing his declining years surrounded by peace and plenty. His comfortable residence is in sec- tion 21.

Our subject was born in Portsmouth, England, March 13, 1817, and while he was still young he came to America with his parents and settled near Toronto, Canada, where he was reared and educa- ted. He remained there until after he attained his majority, and then emigrated to the United States with his family and settled in Black Hawk county, Iowa. He continued his residence in that state until March, 1883, when he removed to North Da- kota, and at once settled on the land on which he has since resided in section 29 of Dry Lake town- ship, and is one of the solid men of Ramsey coun- ty. He is well versed in the most approved meth- ods of operating a farm, and has met with success in his calling, and has remained to see his family nicely located, and now enjoys a review of a life well spent.

Our subject was married in Canada to Miss Jessie Falconer, who was born in Detroit, Michi- gan, August 10, 1836. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Horne, seven of whom are now living and are as follows: Annie J., now Mrs. George Copeland; William C. E .; Jessie, now Mrs. Charles Bessire; Margaret I., now Mrs. Charles B. Richards; Arthur E., a well-to-do resident of that county ; Emily C., now Mrs. Wilson E. Low- ell ; and Robert E., who owns nearly one thousand acres of land in Dry Lake township, and one lun- dred and sixty acres in Cavalier county, North Dakota.

HON. LARS P. HAVREVOLD, whose pleas- ant and hospitable home is situated on a peninsula in Lake Ibsen, is one of the most influential citi- zens of Benson county, and throughout the state he has made his influence felt, not only in a mate- rial and financial way, but in the better and broader development of the moral and educational interests of its people.

Mr. Havrevold was born in . Roldal, Bergen- stift, Norway, September 10, 1852, being the fifth

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

child in a family of twelve children born to Paul and Walborg ( Colbenstvedt ) Havrevold. The mother is still living on the old home farm in Nor- way, from which she has never been induced to depart. The father was the owner of the farm Tostad, near Stavanger, and was a man of some means. Young Lars lived much with an uncle, and received a good education. At the age of fifteen years he engaged as elerk in a store in Stavanger, and later clerked in his father's store up to 1871. In that year he came to America, and on July 4 took up his residence in Minnesota, where he worked at farm work, and during the winter months attended school to complete his knowledge of English. He later worked on a farm in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and also clerked in a store. In 1877 he returned to Norway, but after a year's sojourn there he longed for America again, and returned to Iowa. In 1880 he went to Fargo, North Dakota, and began elerking in a store. In 1883 he went to Ramsey county, where he took a squatter's claim. In June of the same year he started from Devils Lake, and at the end of the first day's journey reached what is now called Lake Ibsen. He found an abundance of fish in the lake, and wild geese nesting on its banks, while in the grove that grew upon its shores were innumerable wild birds. He and his companions determined to set their stakes there at once, and Mr. Havrevold and Mr. Goldberg remained upon the claims while their two comrades returned to Devils Lake to send forward provisions and lum- ber. The two men thus left alone in the uninhab- ited wild were without any visible means of sub- sistance excepting two pounds of rice, a little salt and five cartridges. With their last cartridge they were fortunate enough to bring down a wild goose, and upon this they feasted and thus bridged' over the lapse till the arrival of provisions.

Mr. Havrevold is a Republican in political faith, and has been for many years a party leader. He assisted to organize the party in the state, and in 1890 was elected to the state legislature. He introduced house bill No. 60, an act requiring that the Scandinavian language be taught in the State University at Grand Forks. This measure aroused much discussion throughout the state. During his term of service he was also chairman of the committee on manufactures and on commit- tee on ways and means. At the next general elec- tion he was returned to the legislature, and again did efficient work. He introduced house bill No. 100, an act providing for the establishment of courts of conciliation. He also was made chair- man of the committee on woman's suffrage. His services to the state have been valuable, and in shaping the policy of a new state he showed a breadth of wisdom and foresight that commanded the highest regard. His biography is intimately as- sociated with the history of North Dakota and its institutions.

Mr. Havrevold was married, August 20, 1893,

to Mrs. Julia Rasmussen nee Johnson, and to this union four children have been born, namely : Paul V. I., Giske O., Lars P. and Johannes. By her first marriage Mrs. Havrevold has three sons, namely: Robert, Albert and Augustinus, who are members of Mr. Havrevold's household.

WALTER L. WILLIAMSON, one of the most extensive real estate dealers in Ransom county, is a resident of Lisbon, North Dakota, where he has resided for many years. He is well known as pioneer of North Dakota, and enjoys an enviable reputation as a worthy citizen, and able business man. A portrait of Mr. Williamson will be found on another page.

Our subject was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, April 3, 1859, and was the eldest in a family of six children, born to Dr. Walter M. and Mary P. (Raymond) Williamson. His mother is now liv- ing in Philadelphia. The family in America dates to 1682, when Daniel Williamson settled in what is now Newton Square, Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, twelve miles from the center of Philadel- phia. The family became well known in the state of Pennsylvania, and Daniel Williamson was a member of the Pennsylvania assembly from 1687 to 1721. Various ones of the family fought in the Revolutionary war, and John Williamson was lieu- tenant in Anthony Wayne's regiment.

From the time our subject was about two years of age he spent his life in Philadelphia, and his edu- cation was completed at the Episcopal Academy. He entered a wholesale dry goods house at the age of fifteen years, and then spent three years as trav- eling salesman. He went to Brown's Valley, Min- nesota, in 1882, and from there drove to Lake Kandiotta, in what is now Sargent county, North Dakota, under the guidance of a half-breed Indian. After remaining a short time he returned to Min- nesota, and in 1884 again went to Dakota, and was engaged in a general merchandise business in Mil- nor, and later became connected with the real es- tate business of the Bank of Sargent County at Milnor. He moved to Lisbon, Ransom county, in 1892, and for four years was manager of the real estate and insurance business of F. P. Allen, and later established his present business. He now handles real estate in the counties of Sargent, La Moure, Cass, Richland and Ransom, and also does a mortgage and loan business.

Our subject was married, in 1889, to Miss M. Ethleen Knuppenburg, a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Williamson is one of the pioneer educational women of the state, and was engaged in teaching in Richland county about twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson have been the parents of three children, as follows: Walter K., deceased : Mary E., Francis V. Mr. Williamson is a gentleman of the best characteristics, and does very effective service in the upbuilding of the educational inter- ests of the community in which he makes his home.

WALTER L. WILLIAMSON.

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He was one of the incorporators and acted as sec- retary of the normal school at Milnor, the first institution of its kind established within the present limits of the state of North Dakota. He is a popu- lar member of the Masonic fraternity and is a member of all of the Masonic bodies; a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor of the Supreme Council Thirty-third S. J. U. S .; trustee of the Masonic Temple of Fargo and chairman of the committee of grievances and appeals of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota since 1893. He has been a member of the Grand Lodge since the organiza- tion of the same, and is also past master of Anchor Lodge, No. 25, of Milnor ; and is deputy inspector general of North Dakota for the valley of Lisbon.

ALEXANDER CURRIF. The name of this gentleman will be readily recognized as that of a leading agricultural implement dealer of Cando, and an extensive general farmer of Towner county. He has one of the finest residences in the state of North Dakota, handsomely finished and furnished with modern improvements and every appointment of the place bespeaks the culture and refinement of its occupants.

Our subject is a native of the Province of On- tario, Canada, and was born September 19, 1859. He was the fourth in a family of eight children born to Laughlin and Nancy (McPherson ) Currie. The father was a native of the highlands of Scotland and the mother was also of Scotch extraction, but a native of Canada. Both parents are now de- ceased.

Mr. Currie was reared on a farm and picked rocks and grubbed stumps as an early training. The mother died when he was twelve years of age and at the age of fourteen years he left home and hired out at farm labor. He went to the lumbering dis- tricts of Minnesota in the fall of 1880 and in the spring drove logs, and the following fall went to the Red river valley for harvest, his brother being in business in Grafton. Our subject then located on land in Walsh county, but had no means with which to begin the cultivation of his land and in the spring of 1884 went to Towner county and entered claim to land in section 34, in township 158, range 65, and with about three hundred dollars began operations on his place. He erected a small shanty and during about seven seasons lived alone on his little claim, spending the winters near Park River. He confined himself to farming one half-section un- til 1889, when he increased his acreage and now owns and operates one thousand six hundred acres, of which one thousand five hundred acres is under plow, and he has of late years devoted attention to stock raising. He has a finely improved estate and has prospered in a marked degree. He em- barked in the implement business in Canada in 1896 and now enjoys a liberal patronage.

Our subject was married, in 1892, to Miss Mabel Noyes, Mr. and Mrs. Currie are the parents of

two children, named Ruth M. and John McP. Mr. Currie is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and Modern Wood- men of America. He was elected sheriff in 1895 and served two terms, and is held in the highest esteem by all.

BRUNO CHARBONNEAU, a familiar figure on the streets of Willow City, Bottineau county, was born near Montreal in 1856. He belongs to a family that has kept its French blood unstained, and though he is in the sixth generation in America, he is proud of his unspotted lineage. His mother was French and his father, Oliver Charbonneau, born in Canada, has spent his entire life in agricul- ture. The old Canadian homestead where the first Charbonneaus settled is still owned by members of the family.

The subject of this article is the third in a family of eight children born to his parents, and was reared on the farm. He had an excellent education, com- pleted the common school, and spent three years in the higher studies. He became proficient in French and English. When he was fourteen he entered a store in Montreal as a clerk, and was engaged in this manner until he was twenty-one. At that time he opened a general store in his native village eleven miles from Montreal, and spent the next five years with a younger brother in this business, but he was 110t satisfied with the outlook for a young man in that small place. He traveled for some time in Can- ada and in the New England states, but did not think the older East was the proper country for a young man of energy. He turned his eyes toward the northwest, and came to St. John, North Dakota, in 1883. The nearest railroad station at that time was Grafton. He drove overland from Winnipeg, and very shortly located himself on government land in Rolette county. He was married, in 1882, in New England, to Miss Philomene Paquette. She was born in Canada, and is of pure French blood. Her progenitors have also been in Canada for many gen- erations. They have no children of their own, and are rearing one adopted child, Susie, born in St. John October 13, 1887.

On his settlement in North Dakota Mr. Charbon- neau immediately put up a log shanty, 13x13 feet, and began his farming operations with a yoke of oxen which had been brought in, in 1883. He con- tented himself with them for three years. With them he hauled all supplies from Devil's Lake, and in the course of these journeys had many trying ex- periences. One night he was caught by one of the worst storms known in the country. It was in 1885. He had camped on a hillside, and the rain became a torrent. He had two of his brothers with him. and they had all the experiences that go with pioneer- ing in the Northwest. He remained on the Rolette county farm until the fall of 1890. He is the owner of a hundred and sixty acres on the boundary line in North Dakota, and has made it a very complete

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farm. While there he taught school for a time. He was elected a county commissioner in the fall of 1888, and served three years. In the spring of 1891 he established a lumber yard at Rolla, and was in business there two years. In 1893 he put his brother in charge of the yard. This brother has become the probate judge of that county, and is one of the leading members of the North Dakota judiciary. Mr. Charbonneau came to Willow City and opened a second yard for the handling of lumber. The lumber business has had many attractions for him and at one time he was the proprietor of four dif- ferent yards. He still holds his farm, and would not imperil it under any consideration. In all his experiences he has never signed a mortgage. He is largely interested in real estate and loans in Bot- tineau county. He is a Democrat but has never been willing to accept a nomination to any office. He is the present chairman of the Democratic county committee and is an active worker for the party.

JAMES A. HORNE. In the list of well-regu- lated farms of Dry Lake township, Ramsey county, stands that owned and operated by James A. Horne and sons. It is supplied with modern improvements and machinery for its operation and the success which has fallen to the lot of the proprietor is well earned. Our subject has devoted his career to this line of work since residing in North Dakota, and is well-versed and applies himself intelligently to the same, and is one of the fortunate men of the com- munity. His home is in section 16.

Mr. Horne was born near Birford, Canada, De- cember 7, 1843, and was a son of William and Charlotte Matthews (Eaton) Horne, a sketch of whom appears under the title of William Horne. The mother died in Canada, July 9, 1858. June 15, 1859, the father married Miss Jeanette Fal- comer and the father, step-mother and two children, the subject of this sketch and his sister, Charlotte M. later settled in Black Hawk county, Iowa. Our subject remained at home until after attaining is majority and then engaged in the milling business in Cedar Falls, Iowa, until the spring of 1870, when he removed to Hampton, Franklin county, and en- gaged in the same business there until 1876. He then went to Litchfield, Minnesota, and followed milling there two years, and then spent six years in St. Paul and vicinity. He went to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, in the spring of 1882, and remained there one year and then located in Ram- sey county and settled on the farm on which he lias since resided. He has placed excellent improve- ments on his home farm and with his sons owns and operates one thousand three hundred and forty acres of land. This furnishes a good in- come and Mr. Horne is one of the solid men of his county.

Our subject was married in Black Hawk county, Iowa, to Margaret I. Falconer, who was born in London, Canada, May 10, 1844. Mrs. Horne died

at Afton, Minnesota, January 7, 1880. Five chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Horne, of whom three are still living: Hugh, Albert D. and William George. Two died in infancy. Mr. Horne was mar- ried to Emma E. Reynolds, in Ramsey county, North Dakota, December 28, 1886. Mrs. Horne is a native of Canada, but was reared in the United States. Eight children have been born to this union, who are as follows : John L., James A., Jr., Ger- trude E., Victor A., Mary J., Charlotte I., Sarah M. and Emma O. Mr. Horne has served as school treasurer and township clerk and is actively inter- ested in public affairs. He is a Royal Arch Mason.

JOHN NAGLE, one of the pioneer settlers of Ferry township, Grand Forks county, resides on sec- tion 1, and has acquired a comfortable competence and an enviable reputation. His life and labors in North Dakota extend over a period of nearly a quarter of a century and he has always been found standing on the side of right and justice and mani- festing the true spirit of American progress.

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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 138

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