Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 140

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 140

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George Taylor was the first born in a family of six children, and learned valuable lessons of endur- ance and economy in his boyhood on the Canadian farm. He was given a very good common-school education, and remained with his parents until 1883. That year he came to North Dakota and was engaged as a carpenter for the first year after his en- trance into the state in Grand Forks county and city. He was employed on the buildings of the University of North Dakota. In 1884, when the construction of these buildings was completed, he spent some time in Walsh county, and in the fall of that year located on a farm in Bottineau county, five and a half miles east of Omemee. Mr. Taylor, his fa- ther, William Halls, James Smith, who is now in Washington, and W. D. Davidson, now in Cali- fornia, came in together. They had a tent, and spent much time in hunting along the road. It was a holiday journey to be succeeded by hard work. In the spring of 1885 Mr. Taylor put up a frame shanty, 12×16 feet, with lumber hauled from Devils Lake, and that season broke fifty-four acres with oxen.

Our subject was married, December 31, 1886, to Miss Carlinda Bowerman, at that time a resi- aent of Wisconsin. Her father was of pure Ger- man blood, and her grandfather brought the fam- ily to Canada about the time of the war of 1812. Mrs. Taylor has more than the usual musical abil- ity, and is the mother of three girls, Inez MI., Laura J. and Gertrude M., all natives of North Dakota. He brought his wife by railroad to Walsh county, and thence by ox team to their future home in Bottineau county, and was nine days on the road. They took hold bravely of the work of making a home in the wilderness, though they they had every variety of trouble almost, have come through grandly and successfully. In 1886 gophers almost completely destroyed their crops. Prairie fires have swept across their grain fields and mead- ows, frosts have ruined their tender crops,-but they are alive and happy, and proud of the state 41

of their choice. In 1886 Mr. Taylor had a nar- row escape. He was getting out wood on the Turtle mountains when a prairie fire suddenly swept around the hills, and only by driving his oxen and wagon into the waters of a small lake did he escape and save his team. During the fif- teen years Mr. Taylor has been in the state his wheat crops have averaged him fifteen bushels to the acre. One year he had an average yield of fifty-one bushels to the acre, and the same year his oats went one hundred and fifteen bushels. In 1894 his wheat was only four bushels to the acre. He kept his home on the farm until 1897, when he moved into the village of Omemee and started in the machine business. In the spring of 1900 he joined his energies with those of David Keller, and the new firm put up a building 24x100 feet, and at once commanded the largest trade in farm machinery throughout the county. Mr. Taylor still retains his half-section of land, of which he keeps two hundred and sixty-six acres in cultivation and uses the remainder for pasture. His farm house is a two-story building, 18x26 feet, and a kitchen twelve feet square. He also has two granaries, 16x18 and 16x24 feet, and a barn 20x40 feet. It is a well equipped and improved farm and reflects credit upon its owner. Mr. Taylor is a Republican, and was appointed deputy assessor in 1886. He served three years, and was the first man in the neighborhood to fill that office. He was school treasurer and clerk eleven years. He is a Mason and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He is a man of character, and is highly respected where- ever known.

JAMES MURPHY, one of the earliest set- tlers of Ferry township, still resides in said town- ship, where he has a pleasant home surrounded by all the conveniences and most of the comforts of modern farm life.

Mr. Murphy was born in county Wexford, Ireland, April 15, 1852. His parents, Arthur and Mary (Thorp) Murphy, were natives of county Wexford. They were farming people, and came to America, in 1852, and settled in Lanark county, Upper Canada. In 1880 they came to Grand Forks county and purchased land in Ferry town- ship. Here they farmed for several years, and then moved to Grand Forks, where the father died in 1891. The mother still resides in that city. They were the parents of two sons and two daugh- ters, all living in the United States.

The subject of this biography was reared in Canada, where he received a fair education and learned the baker's trade. He followed his trade in Canada for four and a half years, and then, in 1878, came to Grand Forks. He only remained a short time, but soon afterward returned to Grand Forks county and purchased land in 1880. The land was all wild, and there was little evidence of

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civilization in Ferry township, where he took up his residence. To-day he is the owner of a valu- able farm of two hundred and fifty acres, all well improved and under a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Murphy was married in 1876, to Miss Ann Sherlock. Mrs. Murphy is also a native of Canada. They have ten children, named as fol- lows: G. Joseph, Mary, Maggie, James, Jr., Annie, Arthur, Ellen, Michael, Elizabeth and Isabella. They are all members of the Catholic church, and the family is highly respected in the community. Mr. Murphy has taken an active part in public af- fairs of a local nature, and has served as supervisor and chairman of the board. He has been a county commissioner since 1891, and has held a number of school and township offices. In political faith he is a Republican.

HON. STEPHEN EYOLFSON, residing in section 34, in Gardar township, Pembina county, is a man of sterling qualities, honest and upright, and a representative farmer of that locality. He was born in Iceland, December 25, 1849, and is now a thorough American citizen.

Our subject was the third in a family of seven children born to Eyolfur and Steinun (Stefans- dottir ) Magnusson. The father of our subject now resides in Manitoba. Mr. Eyolfson worked as a fisherman and farmer in his native land, and- in 1874 went to Denmark en route to Norway, and from there came to America and at once located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was employed at farming and lumbering, and as foreman in a lun- ber yard in that city. He went to Winnipeg, Canada, in 1875, and took land and lived there five years, and endured many hardships, being among the first settlers of that locality. He went to Pem- bina county in the spring of 1880, and worked in Pembina, and also farmed in Joliette township, and in 1883 took land upon which he now resides, and became a resident thereof in 1885. He raises stock and grain, and has about thirty head of cat- tle, one hundred hogs and fifty sheep, and he now has four hundred and eighty acres of land, the most part under cultivation.

Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss Gudrun Bjornson. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Evolfson, as follows: Thordis, deceased ; Cecilia, Thorlak Emmanuel, Thordis, Margret, Pearl and Magnus. Mr. Eyolfson was elected to a seat in the state legislature, in 1894, on the Populist ticket, and served on the commit- tees on banks and banking, corporations ( other than municipal), agriculture, highways, bridges and ferries, public debt and state library. He is a leader of his party and is a stanch Farmers' Al- liance man. He was elected county commissioner for the second district in 1891, and has served in all the township offices of importance and is one of the best known and most highly esteemed citi- zens of his locality. He holds membership in the

Lutheran church, and also the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of Foresters and National Aid Society.

WILLIAM E. GOOZEE. The maturer years of this gentleman have been devoted almost exclu- sively to the labor pertaining to the calling of a farmer, and is a man well versed in his vocation, earnest and systematic, and has met with good results in his work. He has a fine estate in Fresh- water township, Ramsey county, and resides on section 9.

Our subject was born in Ringwold, near Do- ver, Kent, England, July 25, 1861. He left home at the age of fourteen years and went to London, where he followed commercial occupations nine years and then returned to his home and purchased his father's mercantile business. He continued to operate the business nine months, and then dis- posed of his interests and emigrated to America in the spring of 1884. He went direct to North Dakota and settled in Freshwater township, where he entered claim to government land, and has since been a resident of that township. He has erected a complete set of good farm buildings on the place, and provided every arrangement for eco- nomically conducting the farm. He owns two hundred acres, and gains a good competence from the same.

Our subject was married at Devils Lake, North Dakota, April 2, 1888, to Miss Lizzie Owen, who was born in Wales, and was reared in Wales and Liverpool, England. Mr. and Mrs. Goozee are the parent of seven children, named in order of birth as follows: Elsie L., William Harold, Edith Mabel, Frances G., Lenora E., Laura L. and Nel- lie M. Mr. Goozee is one of the prominent men of his township, and has been called upon to serve in various local offices, including member of the township board of supervisors, township clerk, clerk of the school board and justice of the peace. He was elected county surveyor, but did not qual- ify for the office. He is an active church worker, and is the ruling elder of the Presbyterian church and clerk of the session. He is also heartily in- terested in temperance work in North Dakota, and is an honorary member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

HON. FANGAL G. ENGER. The handsome home of Mr. Enger, situated on section 2, in the township which bears his name, is one of the evi- dences of his prosperity. He is the oldest settler of Steele county, and is well known as an extensive agriculturist and land owner. He preceded all other settlers in the county by two years, and his descrip- tions of the early times in Dakota are interesting and give some idea of the privations and discourage- ments to be surmounted in a new country. His wealth is due to his untiring energy and persever-

HON. F. G. ENGER.

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ance, and he is intimately connected with the finan- cial and agricultural development of that region. A portrait of Mr. Enger is shown on another page.

Mr. Enger was born in Ringerike-Buskeruds, Amt, Norway, February 22, 1846, and is the older of two living children born to Guldbrand and Ele (Lunda) Enger. His mother lives in Norway at an advanced age. Our subject left his home and na- tive country to try his fortunes in the new world in 1869, and first began working in Mitchell county, Iowa, and later went to Albert Lea, Minnesota, where he attended school and worked at railroading. He began working on the Northern Pacific Railroad in the summer of 1871, and made his way thus to Fargo, Dakota, and during the winter of 1871-72 worked at odd jobs around that city. He left there for the Goose river country in search of a claim be- yond the then settled portion of the country, in com- pany with two companions, Iver Fisher and John Amb, in March, 1872. Their equipment was an ax each and a few biscuits, and they thus started across the country afoot. Following up the Minnesota side they soon reached the Goose river and wended their way up this stream, seeing but few settlers, until they finally came to the forks of the Goose river, and then began looking for land on which to place their claims. Mr. Amb selected land in what is now Traill county, and the three pushed forward and April 3 arrived in a bend of the little fork of the north branch of the Goose river. Their provisions then consisted of but two biscuits for each, the weather was cold, and they had no shelter. The fol- lowing morning our subject walked up the valley about half a mile and carved his name on an oak tree, marking thus his present homestead. Mr. Fisher crossed the stream and located his claim, and the same day they returned far enough to reach shelter and some food. They hired an ox team and re- turned to Fargo for a load of provisions, and return- ing to their claims worked together and built on each claim a 16x16 log shanty, with a roof of bark and clay, and the house thus erected on our subject's land was the first built in Steele county. He hired five acres of land broke, and began working on the railroad again until fall, and then worked on a steamboat on the Red river of the North, and then entered the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company, freighting between Fargo, Caledonia and Grand Forks. He purchased a yoke of oxen and loaded a few implements, and in the spring of 1874 estab- lished himself on his farm and lived there alone, since which time he has made it his home continu- ously. He began wheat raising at once and mar- keted it at Fargo, and during those times from twenty-five to one hundred teams were often seen going into Fargo loaded with wheat which sold from seventy-three cents to one dollar and a half per bushel. Mr. Enger has met with eminent success in Dakota, and is now the possessor of between six and seven thousand acres of Steele county land, and an additional five sections in Richland county, and is considered the most extensive farmer in the country.

Our subject was married, in 1875. to Miss Ger- trude Peterson. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Enger, as follows: Gulbrand, now farming near our subject; Peter, Edward, Carl, Friis, Gabrial, Thorvald, Oliver and Ele. Mr. Enger was elected to the state legislature in 1890 by a large majority, and was re-elected by a still greater ma- jority, an evidence of his popularity and efficient ser- vice. In the senate he became identified with the prohibition movement, and during his second term served as chairman of the prohibition committee. He is progressive and intelligent, and is deservedly highly respected and esteemed. He is a Republican in political faith, and stands for his convictions. In religious matters he is united with the Lutheran church.

HALVOR K. LOILAND. This gentleman ranks among the intelligent and progressive farm- ers of Nelson county, and has a fine estate in sec- tion 2 of Lee township. His farm comprises three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, and his residence is on the homestead in which he lo- cated in 1885, and is a modern structure recently erected to take the place of the pioneer sod house in which he lived for fifteen years.

Our subject was born on the farm in Loiland, in Satersdalen, Kristiansand Stift, Norway, August 22, 1862. He was the sixth in a family of nine children born to Knute and Joraand (Roisland ) Loiland, and the father was one of the extensive farmers of that locality and our subject was reared to farm work. He entered the seminary at the age of seventeen years and took a two years' course and prepared himself for teaching and en- gaged in that profession about one year in his native land. In the spring of 1882 he crossed the ocean and landed at Quebec, and went direct to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, and worked a season there, and in the spring of 1883 took land in Osage township, Nelson county, but was em- ployed on a farm in Grand Forks county, and taught Norwegian school until 1885, when he took the farm on which he now makes his home. He · began permanent residence thereon in 1886, invest- ing in a team and cow, and developed his farm and added to his income by teaching. He experienced pioneer life as a bachelor and engaged in farming with success. He erected a fine barn in 1896, and in 1900 a fine two-story house. 42x16, with addi- tion 16x16, and his place now bears substantial improvements, he enjoying a good competence.

Our subject was married, in 1892. to Miss Anna Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Loiland are the parents of four children, who are named as fol- lows: Knute: Carl G .; Peder O., deceased : and Josephine J. Mr. Loiland has mixed freely in affairs of Lee township and the public life of Nel- son county. He was elected chairman of the township board in 1887 and has held the office suc- cessively to date with the exception of one year.

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He is a member of the Lutheran church and is a Republican in political sentiment and is a member of the county central committee from his town- ship.

EDWIN B. PAYNE, M. D., the pioneer phy- sician of McHenry county, is now a resident of the city of Towner, where he has a valuable practice, and is also the owner of a farm and ranch near that city.

Dr. Payne was born on a farm in Connecticut in 1844, June 28th. His father, Seelye Payne, was an iron manufacturer, was born in Ver- mont, and his grandfather, Nathan Payne, brought the family to America in 1700. Members of this family served in the Revolutionary war. The Paynes are of English descent. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Hannah Thompson, was also a native of Connecticut, and the Thompson family trace their ancestry back many generations in America. Our subject's par- ents were married in Connecticut.

Dr. Payne was the ninth child in a family of eleven children, and was reared on a farm, receiv- ing such education as the common schools afford during the winter months, and then took a course in an academy. At the age of seventeen years he enlisted, September 1, 1861, in Company E, Fourth New York Volunteer Cavalry, and was sent to Washington. He started on March 10, 1862, and was in active service till the close of the war. He was with the Army of the Potomac in all its great battles and also took part in many smaller engage- ments. He was captured at Warrington, Vir- ginia, and held a prisoner in Richmond for three months, when he was paroled and soon exchanged and again joined the army. He was wounded at Winchester, September 19, 1864, and was off duty several days. With the exception of his imprison- ment and his hospital experience he was in active service, continuously in the saddle during the three years and eleven months that he was a soldier. He received his honorable discharge at Buffalo in August, 1865.

After the war he returned to Connecticut and farmed for a time. He then took up the study of medicine under Dr. Ebenezer Osborne, at Bethle- hem, Connecticut, and continued with him in study and practice for seven years. He was admitted to practice in Connecticut in 1881. In 1883 he began to practice alone. In 1886 he came to Da- kota and established an office and started a prac- tice, being the first doctor in the county. He also took up a homestead claim near the present site of the city of Towner, and this farm he has conducted continuously since, in connection with his practice. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, a good share of which is under cul- tivation, and the rest devoted to pasture for stock. For the first few years he resided upon his farm.

Dr. Payne was married, in 1866, to Miss Ema-

line A. Burroughs. She was born in Kent, Litchi- field county, Connecticut, and was the daughter of Eben H. Burroughs, a farmer of German de- scent. The Burroughs family was brought to America by Priest Burroughs at an early day in the history of the United States. Six children were born of this marriage. The mother died in 1882.

Dr. Payne married, in Towner, North Dakota, June 2, 1887, to Abbie E. Walrath, who was born in Iowa. This marriage was the first that oc- curred in the city of Towner. To this union four children have been born. Dr. Payne has taken an active part in public affairs and has been for twelve years coroner of MeHenry county, and superintendent of the board .of health for four years. He is a Republican in political faith and is a member of the G. A. R. and Knights of Pythias. He is classed among the pioneers of the county, and he put up one of the first shacks that appeared in the vicinity of the city of Towner.

JAMES POLLOCK, whose farm of one section evidences his prosperity, is a man of thorough and practical knowledge of the pursuit of agriculture. He is one of the pioneer settlers of Dickey county. and it is to his persistent efforts that his success is due. He was not without the experiences which meet every settler in a new country, but his adapta- bility to circumstances and determination led him forward, and he is now one of the substantial men of his community.

Mr. Pollock was born on a farm in the province of Quebec, Canada, January 26, 1859, and was the eldest in a family of ten children, nine of whom are now living, born to John and Martha Mary ( Boyd) Pollock. His father was a native of Ireland, and was a farmer by occupation. While he retains his old homestead in Huron county, Canada, he is now living in North-West territory, Canada.

Our subject resided in his native county until eleven years of age, when his parents moved to Hu- ron county, Ontario, Canada, and there he lived and worked on the farm until the fall of 1882, when he came to the United States and at once went to Dickey county, Dakota, then a territory, where he re- mained for a short time investigating the general conditions, and returned to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the winter. He again went to Dickey county, North Dakota, in the spring of 1883, and filed claim to the southwest quarter of section 34, on which he has since resided. He now owns the entire section, and Mrs. Pollock owns a quarter-section directly across the road, in section 33.

Our subject was married in Huron county, On- tario, in 1882, to Grace Turnbull, a daughter of Will- iamı and Elizabeth Turnbull, who lived on a farm in that county. Three children were born to this union, as follows: Mary E., Alice B. and John B. Mr. Pollock was married in Ellendale, North Dakota. in June, 1896, to Miss Annie Redmond, a native of

JAMES POLLOCK.

MRS. JAMES POLLOCK.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

Iowa, and a daughter of Thomas Redmond. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pollock, named Kittie D. Mr. Pollock is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. He is promi- nent in public affairs, and has held numerous town- ship offices, and is highly esteemed. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Pollock will be found on another page.

CALEB LAIDLEY. Honest industry and persistent efforts are not without their reward. The subject of this review went to Dakota in pio- neer days and has spent nearly a quarter of a cen- tury there and is now the fortunate possesssor of a well-improved farm and a comfortable home, and enjoys a high standing as a citizen. He re- sides in Turtle River township, Grand Forks county.

Our subject is a native of Scotland, and was born near the city of Glasgow, August 13, 1840. His parents, John and Hannah ( Houston) Laid- ley, emigrated to Canada from Scotland, about 1844, and died in Canada. Eight sons and five daughters constituted their family of children. Our subject has one brother and one sister now in the United States.

Mr. Laidley was reared in Canada and received his early education there and then followed logging until 1877, when he went to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, and the same year entered a pre- emption claim to land upon which he now resides. He was one of the first settlers in that section of the country and has met with decided success in the prosecution of his work.

Our subject was married, in 1863, to Maggie Cox, a native of Canada. Mrs. Laidley died in North Dakota in 1888. Six children were born to this union, named in order of birth as follows: William George, Joshua, Thomas, Ida A., Maggie and Mary Esther. Mr. Laidley assisted in the organization of his township and has served as chairman of the township board and takes a hearty interest in all affairs of his township and county and has held numerous offices of trust. He is a Republican politically and is a gentleman of intel- ligence and keeps abreast of the times and is firm in his convictions. He is one of the substantial and deservedly popular men of his community.

JOHN H. GRESENS. Among the foreign- born residents of Ramsey county who have become thoroughly identified with the better interests of that region may be mentioned Mr. Gresens, who has a pleasant estate in Dry Lake township, and has built a good residence in section 33.

Our subject was born in Prussia, Germany, October 19, 1843. He was reared in his native land and learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in Germany until 1867. He emigrated

to America in June of that year, landing at New York, and went directly to Chicago, and from thence went to Escanaba, Michigan, after a short time. He remained there one year and then went to Di- huith, Minnesota, and after one year went to Bay- held, Wisconsin. He followed huis trade in that city two years, when he took up his residence in Hancock, Michigan, and remained there until 1883. In April of 1883 he came to Ramsey coun- ty, North Dakota, and at once entered claim to land as a homestead in Dry Lake township and be- came a permanent settler of that locality. He has continued his residence there and is now pro- prietor of a fine farm of four hundred and forty acres, and has devoted his life to farming since locating in North Dakota. He has met with good success and has built good buildings and made other improvements and provided a home of much comfort and is now one of the substantial men of his community.

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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 140

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