Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 139

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 139

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Our subject was born in Ontario, Canada, June 5. 1848, and was a son of William and Eliza J. (Nugent) Nagle, further notice of whom appears in the sketch of William Nagle, brother of our sub- ject. Mr. Nagle was reared and educated in Canada and followed farming there and also worked in the woods and in the fall of 1877 went to North Dakota. In the fall of that year he filed claim to the land on which he now resides and has continued his resi- dence since that date. He now has three quarter- sections of land, all of which is fully improved and he has placed valuable improvements thereon and conducts the farm economically and profitably. He was one of the very first settlers of that section and saw many Indians during the first few years of his residence there.

Our subject was married, in 1880, to Amelia O'Brien, a native of Canada. Mrs. Nagle was a daughter of John and Anora (O'Donnell) O'Brien. who were natives of Ireland and came to Canada in 1847 and from there went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1872. They settled on the Minnesota side of the Red river, and there spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Nagle are the parents of ten children, named in order of birth as follows : Elizabeth J. Ellen, Annora F., Annie, Thomas, John, William, Mary, Amelia and Sylvester E. The family are consistent members of the Catholic church and are well and favorably known. Mr. Nagle is a gentleman of true citizenship and has served as school treasurer and assisted in the or- ganization of his township. He has a host of friends and enjoys the confidence of all.

HON. JAMES C. GILL, deceased. For fif- teen years prior to his death James C. Gill was indissolubly connected with the financial and social interests of Cass county. He was a pioneer of

HON. JAMES C. GILL (Deceased).

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that county and gave his best labors for its de- velopment and advancement and was esteemed in the highest degree by his fellowmen. He was pro- prietor of a hine farm near Casselton, and was a resident of Gill township, which was named in his honor. He was a man of active public spirit, and was ably discharging the duties of secretary of the state senate, when he was stricken with his fatal illness. His portrait will be found on another page.

Mr. Gill was born in Perry county, Illinois, November 3, 1843, and was a son of William and Melinda (Curry ) Gill. His father was a native of England, and came to America when a young man. He settled in Perry county, Illinois, where he fol- lowed farming, and later moved to Missouri, and from there to North Dakota, but afterward returned to Missouri, where he died at the age of eighty-six years. He followed farming and stock business near Fort Scott, and was a prosperous man.

James C. Gill was reared and educated in Illi- nois, attending Bunker Hill Academy and Mc- Kendrie College. He began farming with his father in Illinois and removed with him to St. Louis, but returned to Illinois and later removed to south- western Missouri, where he engaged extensively in the sheep and cattle business. He was secretary of the State Wool Growers' Association of Missouri for some years, and was also state lecturer for the State Grange of Missouri. He went to Cass county, North Dakota, in 1882, and settled in Gill town- ship, on section 35, where he followed farming till his death, and met with unbounded success.

Mr. Gill assisted in the organization of the township which bears his name and was one of its first officers. He was elected county commissioner and served four years, and was chairman of the board. He was president two years of the United Farmers of North Dakota, and was the moving spirit in the organization of the Wool Growers' Association of North Dakota. He was elected to the lower house in 1891, and his efficient service and popularity were best evidenced by the fact that he was returned to the same office in the election of 1894, and served as speaker during the season of 1895. He was chosen secretary of the state senate in 1897, and was performing his duties in that capacity at the time of his demise. Mr. Gill was married in Illinois, in 1865, to Elila Walton, a native of St. Louis, Missouri. Five children were born to this union, four of whom are still living, as follows: William L., Jessie M., the wife of L. C. Carver, of Casselton ; Fred and Rollie. All reside in Cass county, North Dakota. Mr. Gill died at Bismarck, North Dakota, January 30, 1897, and was taken to his home in Cass county for interment. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a gentleman whom all honored for his excellent characteristics and straightfor- wardness. Politically he was affiliated with the Republican party, and earnest worker for the party principles throughout his career.

WILLIAM L. GILL, the eldest son of Hon. James C. Gill, was born in Macoupm county, Ilinois, May 18, 1866, and removed with his parents to Missouri, and from there to North Dakota. He was married, in 1885, to Nellie Green, a native of Goderich, Ontario, Canada. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gill, all of whom are living, and are named as follows: James W., Aiba L. and Joseph A. Mr. Gill is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in political sentiment is a Republican. He takes an active interest in public affairs but does not seek public office. He is a well-known and highly respected citizen of Wheat- land. His father was also prominent in Masonic affairs, and held membership in Casselton Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Casselton Chapter, R. A. M .; Auvergne Commandery, Knights Templar ; Dakota Consistory, Scottish Rite, and El Zagal Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

HOMER E. KINNEY, deputy collector of cus- toms, is an influential citizen of Cavalier county. He is located at Hannah, and is a public-spirited and enterprising member of the community and an affable and genial gentleman.

Mr. Kinney was born in Richford, Franklin county, Vermont, April 24, 1860. He grew to man- hood on the farm, and received his education in the common schools of Vermont, and later at St. Johnsburg Normal School. He was then employed as an express messenger on the Central Vermont Railroad between St. Albans and Montreal. In the summer of 1882 he accepted a position in the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad shops as time keeper at Wells, Faribault county, Minnesota. He remained there two years, and then, in 1884, he went to Park River, Dakota, and entered the em- ploy of the Pillsbury & Hurlburt Elevator Com- pany. Two years later he came to Cavalier county and entered the grain business, purchasing grain for the Memphis & Northern Elevator Company. In the employ of the same company he went to Fargo where he spent about three years. For the six years following he purchased grain at St. Thomas, mak- ing twelve consecutive years in the employ of the same company. From St. Thomas he came to Han- nalı, Cavalier county, July 1, 1898, and was appoint- ed deputy collector of customs. He has proved an efficient official, discharging his duties with fidelity and a thoroughiness that commands the confidence of all.

Mr. Kinney was married at Park River De- cember 21, 1896, to Miss Nellie Thompson, a native of Ontario, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Kinney are the parents of four children, namely, Paul, Doris and Blaine and Duane, twins. They have a pleasant home and enjoys the friendship of all who know them.

Mr. Kinney has always taken an active part in public matters, and in political views is a Repub- lican. For six years he was a member of the state

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central committee of that party, and has wielded much influence in the state. He is a man of broad views and thoroughly posted on all current topics, and is well informed and an interesting conver- sationalist.

HON. OLE T. TOFSRUD. The business and social interests of Rugby and vicinity are ably repre- sented by this gentleman. He is a general merchant of that thriving town, and as a citizen of true worth.

Mr. Tofsrud was born on a farm in Sigdal, Norway, November 24, 1864. His father, Torgos Tofsrud, was a farmer and came to America with his family in 1882. Our subject was raised in Norway and came to America with his parents, soon after which he began for himself. He took govern- ment land at Barton, North Dakota, and built a sod house in 1885. The nearest railroad station was Devils Lake, seventy miles distant, and he hauled supplies from there. Mr. Tofsrud went across the country with a yoke of oxen and lived alone on his claim three years. He had three successive years of crop failure and in 1890 began working as book- keeper for the Great Northern Railroad Company in Montana with the graders and followed the work two years. He returned to his farm in 1892 and was then elected treasurer on the Republican ticket and served one term. He entered into partner- ship with Theo P. Scotland in 1895 in the general merchandise business, but within four months sold his interest to his partner and started a general store at his present location. He has continued there five years with good results and now has a complete line of general merchandise. He has also. kept his farming interests and has three hundred and twenty acres of land on which he conducts grain raising.

Our subject was married, in 1898, to Miss Rogna Hiller, a native of Norway, who came to America when a child. Her father was a farmer and old settler of North Dakota. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tofsrud, who is named Bertha, and was born June 6, 1899. Mr. Tofsrud was among the first settlers of Pierce county, and has built up a good business and aided materially in the de- velopment of his locality. He was elected to the state legislature in 1894 and served one term and did very efficient work while a member of that body.

FREDRICK W. MCDOUGALL, is one of Da- kota's pioneer farmers and merchants. He is well known as the leading spirit in the establishment of the town of McVille, which might be called the Hub of Nelson county's garden of gardens. Trib- utary to the town is a country beautifully level and fertile : and what is important to that country, water is abundant and superior in quality and ob- tained at a depth of fifteen to thirty feet. Mr. Mc- Dougall is the senior member of the firm of Mc-

Dougall Brothers, who carry the most extensive stock of general merchandise of all the country stores of Nelson county. Aside from this they handle a full line of farming implements, buggies, bicycles, etc., and deal in hve stock and all kinds of farm produce. Mr. McDougall also owns a section of land, about four hundred and eighty acres of which is under cultivation.

Our subject was born in Quebec, Canada, May 15, 1861, and was the sixth in a family of nine children, born to Dixon and Harriet (Gove) Mc- Dougall. Of the parents the father alone survives, and makes his home in Norway township, Nelson county.

When our subject was six years of age he re- moved with his parents to LaFayette county, Min- nesota, and there he was reared on a farm, and in the spring of 1882 he went to Nelson county and took land in what is now Norway township. He and his brother and Mr. Thomas lived much to- gether the first three seasons and worked in common, and in 1885 McVille postoffice was established and our subject was the first postmaster and served until 1889, when the office was discontinued. The present partnership was formed in 1892 and the firm conducted business in the old town of McVille, which was a half mile north of their present location. Business was prosperous until September 5, 1899, when fire destroyed the residence, furniture, store and stock, entailing a loss of $10,000. Mr. Mc- Dougall at once set about to rebuild the business and the present commodious store and warehouses were at once constructed, the work beginning the following morning, and goods which were in the freight house were taken to the barn and sold from there. A machine hall and other buildings are now a part of the business block and all is progress- ing well.

Our subject was married, in 1896, to Miss Madge McMillan. Mrs. McDougall is a lady of rare attainments and a social and genial nature, and has produced an enlivening influence on the social affairs of McVille and vicinity. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McDougall, named as follows: James A. and Searl Dixon. Our subject is a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is non-partisan in politics.

MELVIN D. CHAPPELL, an honored pioncer settler of Turtle River township, lives in a com- fortable home that is the result of faithful efforts and strictest integrity. He was the first settler of his township and endured the hardships of pioneer life and remained to witness a most wonderful transformation in that region.

Our subject was born in Ontario county, New York, April 23, 1843. His parents, James and Eliza (Butts) Chappell, were natives of New York. The father is a farmer by occupation and resides in Lenawee county, Michigan. He removed from New York to Ohio, and from there in 1864 to the northi-

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western part of the same state and soon afterward took up his residence in Michigan. The mother of our subject died there in 1896. This worthy couple were the parents of five sons and one daugh- ter. Four sons were in the Union army, all serv- ing in Ohio regiments. The great grandfather of our subject was in the Revolutionary war and the grandfather served in the war of 1812.

Mr. Chappell was reared in Ohio and spent his early youth there. He enlisted in 1861 in Com- pany G, Sixth Ohio Cavalry, and served three years. He was with the Army of the Potomac, and was at Gettysburg and participated in forty-two engagements and battles. He was mustered out of the service in 1864 and again enlisted in 1865 in Company G, One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The war closed before the regiment went into active service and he was mustered out in May of the same year. He remained in Michigan and Ohio until 1873, when he went to Crookston, Minnesota, and the same fall came to North Dakota and spent the first winter cutting wood at the mouth of the Turtle River for a steam- boat company. The next year he entered claim to the land on which he has since resided, and he has followed farming thereon since that time.

Our subject was married, in 1868, in Michigan, to Adelia Bulkley, a native of Michigan. Mrs. Chappell died April 29, 1899. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Chappell, five of whom are living, named in order of birth as follows: Frank R., Carrie, James, Mary and Agnes. Mr. Chappell assisted in the organization of his township and was the first postmaster of Turtle River office. He has been justice of the peace twelve years and has also served as county coroner and township clerk and is now serving on his thirteenth year as assessor. He is a member of the G. A. R., and is highly re- spected and esteemed in the community in which he makes his home. Politically he is a Republican and stands stanchly for party principles.

ARTHUR E. HORNE. Among the many pros- perous and prominent younger members of the farm- ing community of Ramsey county, a foremost place is accorded the gentleman whose name introduces this review. He is possessed of unbounded energy and enterprise, and has arrived at his present com- fortable circumstances by the exercise of earnest industry and the strictest honesty. He has erected a good home in section 29 of Dry Lake township, where he was an early settler.

Our subject was born on a farm in Black Hawk county, lowa, February 16, 1869, and there spent the early years of his life. His parents, William and Jessie (Falconer) Horne are prominent resi- dents of Dry Lake township, Ramsey county, and a sketch of their lives appears elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Horne remained in his native place until he was about thirteen years of age when he went to

the western part of Iowa and spent two or three years there and then went to North Dakota in March, 1883, with his parents. He has resided there since that dlate and devoted his career to agri- cultural pursuits. He has met with remarkable success since residing in North Dakota, and is now the possessor of one thousand acres of land on while he conducts general farming, and on his home farm has made valuable improvements. Modern methods and machinery are used in operating the farm and the land is made to yield abundantly, while every arrangement is supplied for the economical and easy garnering of the products and disposition of the same. Mr. Horne is one of the solid men of Ramsey county and may feel justly proud of his work there.

Our subject was married in Grand Forks, North Dakota, June 12, 1894, to Miss Nellie Olson, a daughter of Andrew and Charity Olson, who were natives of Norway. Mrs. Horne was born at Waupun, Wisconsin, where she was reared and edu- cated and is a lady of refinement and culture. Mr. and Mrs. Horne are the parents of two children named as follows: Cecyle M. and Hazel A. Mr Horne has served as justice of the peace for several years and is prominent in local affairs of import- ance, and well merits his high standing.

CARL A. PIPER, deceased. For over a quar- ter of a century prior to his demise Cass county had a worthy representative citizen in the person of Carl A. Piper. He went there when it was an un- settled region and his career there was one of an up- right and industrious man, earnestly laboring to advance the community's interests where he had chosen his home, and much of the solid prosperity now enjoyed in that section is due to his many years of service. At the time of his death he was ac- counted a wealthy man, and his possessions were gained entirely by his own efforts, supplemented by the strictest integrity. His home farm is in Addison township and he had financial interests in the town of Addison.

Mr. Piper was born in Germany, March 9, 1846, and was a son of Luise and John Piper. His par- mother died there, but the father passed away in ents passed most of their lives in Germany, and the North Dakota.

Our subject was reared and educated in his na- tive land and followed farming there until 1868, in the meanwhile serving three years in the Ger- man army, when he came to America and located in Winona county, Minnesota. He purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land and continued farm- ing there until 1871, when he went to Cass county, North Dakota, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Maple River township as a homestead, which he improved and later sold and removed to Addison township, continuing his resi- dence on section 14 until his death. He became the owner of three sections of land and was a successful

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agriculturist. He also conducted a general store, lumber yard and elevator at Addison and was one of the substantial men of Cass county.

Our subject was married, in Minnesota, in 1868, to Paulina Hans, a native of Wisconsin. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Piper, as fol- lows: Annie, Adolph R., deceased, Hulda, Ed- mund F., John I., Paul J., Elizabeth, Arthur R., Carl, Ella, deceased, and Florence. Mr. Piper died in North Dakota January 9, 1899, leaving a wife and family to mourn their loss. He was a con- sistent member of the Moravian church and was one of its first members. He served in all the of- fices of his township and was earnest in his support of public enterprises. Politically he was an advo- cate of Republican principles.

SWEN ELLINGSON. A prominent position as a citizen and a pioneer business man of Rey- nolds, Traill county, is accorded this gentleman. He is conducting the furniture and crockery busi- ness in that town, and is a successful merchant, having been identified with the financial and social growth of Reynolds for nearly twenty years. The town site of Reynolds was taken by Doctor Rey- nolds, the "Red Ribbon" temperance worker. A portrait of Mr. Ellingson appears on another page.

Mr. Ellingson was born in Halingdal, Bus- kerud Amt, Christiania Stift, Norway, De- cember 15, 1851. He was the eldest in a family of eight born to Elling and Gunild ( Bernsdatter) Swenson, both of whom are deceased. Our subject was induced by relatives to come to America in 1873 and first worked at farm work at St. Peter, Minnesota, and was also employed at teaching during the winter months in the Norwegian schools. He went to Belmont township, Traill county, in the spring of 1878 and entered a homestead claim, and became one of the earliest "prairie settlers" between Fargo and Grand Forks. He soon completed a small shanty which served as a home for himself and family and be- gan farming, but had no teams or implements and the work was necessarily slow in its progress. He established a general merchandise store in Reynolds in 1881 and conducted the same until he met with reverses in 1893. He recovered his rating in 1895 and established the furniture and crockery business which he now conducts, and he is also in the under- taking business. He has one of the handsomest residences of the village, and has placed himself in comfortable circumstances by his own efforts.

Our subject was married, in 1877, to Miss Liv Thompson, who died in 1879. Mr. Ellingson married Miss Olevia Gaustad in 1881. Seven chil- dren were born to this union, as follows: Julia, Elling, Selmer, Carl, Oscar, Lilly and Esther. Mr. Ellingson is a stanch Republican and a strong ten- perance worker, and is recognized as a leader of party movements. He has filled various offices of trust, has heen justice of the peace since an

early day, and in 1878 was appointed to fill a va- cancy on the board of county commissioners, and has served as assessor. When the town of Reynolds was incorporated Mr. Ellingson was elected a mem- ber of the board of education, which position he yet holds.

THOMAS HESKETH is an honored resident of St. John's, Rolette county, where he lives retired from active pursuits and enjoys the reward of a well spent career. He was born in Cheshire, Eng- land, January 4, 1840.

To the parents of our subject, Richard and Hannah (Wilkinson) Hesketh, seven children were born, of whom Thomas was the eldest. The father was a carpenter and joiner by trade and during the latter years of nis life was in the employ of the Duke of Southerland in Staffordshire, where our subject was reared.

Our subject was apprenticed to the trade of his father when fourteen years of age, but his tastes inclined toward agricultural pursuits and through friends he went to Canada. He arrived at New York and went direct to county Oxford, Ontario, Canada, in 1856. He began farming there and finally possessed a small farm, but desired to extend his farming interests, especially along the line of stock raising and in the spring of 1883 went to the Turtle mountain district in North Dakota. He "squatted" on land in Mt. Pleasant township, Ro- lette county, and held his land there, but his family did not join him until 1886, when he disposed of his interests in Canada. He introduced some thor- oughbred Southdown sheep and Shorthorn cattle, and the flocks and herds of to-dav bear evidence of his efforts to introduce better stock. Henow owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, but owing to ill health has retired from active pursuits and rt sides in St. John's.

Our subject was married, in 1860, to Miss Mary E. Harris, daughter of Walter and Mary ( Quarter- mass) Harris. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hesketh, who are named as follows : Hannah E., now Mrs. William Mountford, of Rolla ; George Thomas, who is married and conducts a livery barn in St. John's, and Mary J., now Mrs. Charles Partridge, of Rolla. Mr. Hesketh was elected county treasurer at the first general election in 1884, and he had previously been an appointee of that office and served in all five years. About 1890 he served on the state board of equalization, resign- ing the position to become deputy collector and in- spector of customs at the sub-port of Turtle Mount- ain during Cleveland's administration. He is. a gentleman of exemplary character and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and established the first Protestant Sunday school in Rolette coun- ty. He has mixed freely in public life and is held in the highest esteem by his fellowmen regardless of party affiliations. He was prominently identified with the organization of the Democratic forces,

SWEN ELLINGSON.

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which for years was the universally successful party in the county, and as a member of the county central committee and delegate to county and state conventions is well known. His church is his lodge room and covers his conception of fraternity.

GEORGE TAYLOR. This popular and suc- cessful citizen of Omemee, Bottineau county, was born on a farm in Ontario, Canada, October 26, 1860, and was reared as a child as farmer people might expect. His father, John Taylor, was a farmer and wood worker, and at times was largely interested in somewhat speculative investments. The family line runs back to Scotch and English springs, and before John Taylor settled in Can- ada he was a resident of the state of Illinois. He married Margaret McClaren. She was born in Scotland, and came to Canada with her parents about 1840.

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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 139

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