Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 143

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 143

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Our subject was married, in 1886, to Miss Sophronia R. Wilcox. Mrs. Swan was engaged for several years after her marriage in teaching in Dakota and is well known in the educational work of Nelson county. Mr. Swan was active in the organization of the township in 1885, and was the first clerk of the township. He was elected coun- ty commissioner for the third district in 1894, and is now serving his second term in that capacity and is chairman of the board. Politically he is a Republican and a man of strong party views, and is wide-awake to the needs of his community and is popular with the people.

ROBERT F. JOHNSON, who lives in Minot and is register of deeds of Ward county, is en- titled to the distinction of having been a pioneer of what at present constitutes two states-first of South Dakota and later of North Dakota.

Mr. Johnson was born in Gratiot county, Mich- igan, December 2, 1856. His father, H. B. John- son, was a native of the state of New York and was a farmer by occupation. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Martha A. Francis, was also a native of New York state, and her marriage to H. B. Johnson occurred in that state. They were early settlers in Michigan, being among the pioneers of that state.

Our subject was reared on a farm and received preliminary education in the public schools and learned the virtue of hard work. At the age of twenty-one years he went to what is now South Dakota and settled near Elkton, in Brookings county, in 1877. He put up a claim shanty on land to which he had hled a claim and farmed there four years, doing all his farm work with oxen. In 1883, having sold his Brookings county farm, he came to the Mouse river country in what is now Ward county, North Dakota, and took a claim fourteen miles southeast of the present site of the city of Minot. The land was unsurveyed, but he staked out a quarter-section and started farming. His father and a brother-in-law settled in the lo- cality at the same time. Mr. Johnson had at that time two hundred dollars, with a portion of which he purchased a yoke of oxen to do his farm work. In 1887 he lost his hay, grain, stable and every- thing except his claim shanty by a destructive prairie fire, which destroyed many farm buildings in the locality and about one hundred acres of fine timber. However, he soon began to prosper again, and his farm was placed in a fine state of cultiva-

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tion. He conducted his farm until 1892, when he became so crippled with rheumatism that he was forced to abandon farm work. He then took charge of a section house on the "Soo Line," which he run for one year, and then for a short time ran a similar house on the Great Northern road. In 1894 he was elected register of deeds of Ward county on the Republican ticket, and has since served in that capacity, having been twice re- elected.

Mr. Johnson was married, in 1887, to Miss Mary H. Strong. Mrs. Johnson was born in lown, the daughter of George W. Strong, a farmer of that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson three children have been born, as follows: Grace, born May 31, 1888; Carrie, born April 1, 1890; Ethel, born December 31, 1892. Mr. Johnson has always been active in public affairs and has done much toward the development of the material re- sources of the county. He has two brothers and four sisters in North Dakota, all of whom were among the pioneers of the state. The Johnson family has been prominent in all matters tending to the better interests and the upward growth of the county since its organization.

ANGUS F. McDONALD. This gentleman is widely known as an early settler and prosperous farmer of Turtle River township, Grand Forks county. He located there among the first settlers and has remained and aided in making that region famous as an agricultural district. He now con- ducts an extensive farm and has gained his pos- sessions single handed and is one of the deservedly popular citizens of his community.

Our suojeet is a native of Ontario, Canada, and was born March 13, 1845. His parents, Finnin and Mary ( McDonald) MeDonald, were natives of Scotland and Ontario, respectively, and the father emigrated to Canada with his parents about 1830. He grew to manhood in Canada and fol- lowed farming there until 1869, when he went to Glyndon, Minnesota, and his death occurred at Crookston in 1891. The mother died in 1880. This worthy couple reared nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters now reside in North Dakota.

Mr. MeDonald passed his boyhood and early youth in his native place and at the age of sixteen years went to Peshtigo, Wisconsin, where he re- mained four years and then moved to Stillwater, Minnesota. He followed lumbering and railroad work there and in 1869 came to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and from there followed the river in the boat service six years. He entered a pre- emption claim to land in Turtle River township, Grand Forks county, in 1874, and has made his residence there since that date. He now has eighteen hundred acres of choice land, all of which is well improved, and he has met with unbounded success in his calling.

Our subject was married, in 1880, to Maggie Ferry, a sister of Michel Ferry, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Donald are the parents of five children, who are named as follows: Finnin M., Peter A., John, Mary E. and Annie. Mr. McDonald and family are members of the Catholic church and take an active interest in the work of the denomination. Mr. McDonald has served on the township board in Turtle River township and has held other local omces, and his public spirit has never been called in question.

JOHN A. McDONALD, one of the pioneers of Turtle River township, Grand Forks county, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, May 4, 1852, and is a brother of Angus McDonald, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. he was reared in Canada to the age of sixteen years, and in 1868 came to the United States and worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad in Min- nesota. He soon returned to Canada, but in 1872 came with the family to Fargo, North Dakota, and worked for a year and a half in the construction department of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1876 he took up the quarter-section where he now lives as a homestead and has continued to live there ever since. He is now the owner of a half-section of valuable lands, upon which he has placed per- manent improvements.

Mr. McDonald was married, in 1880, to Mary Harvey, a daughter of William Harvey ( de- ceased). Mr. and Mrs. MeDonald are the par- ents of three children, named as follows: Ethel E., Laura A. and Agnes J. All members of the family are communicants of the Catholic church. In politics Mr. McDonald is a Republican and has been chosen to many of the local offices. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is highly respected and esteemed in the com- munity in which he lives.

JOHN McKAY. Among the farmers of Grand Harbor township, Ramsey county, who have been potent factors in the upbuilding of that locality, there is no better representative than Mr. Mckay. He has a pleasant home in section 12 and is proprietor of the well-known Grand View Farm. This is one of the estates of that region on which a remunerative business may be done by strict attention to details, and the subject of this review has chosen well and made a success of his work there.

Mr. Mckay was born in Ontario county, Canada, May 14. 1858. He was reared on a farm in his native county and remained there until 1884. In the spring of that year he went to North Da- kota and settled on a farm where he now resides. He has held continuous residence thereon and has erected substantial and commodious buildings and

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otherwise improved the place and made it a fit habitation in every particular. The land is made to yield abundantly and modern methods and machinery are used in the garnering and disposing of the products of the place. The estate covers five hundred and twenty acres, and is one of the finest farms of Ramsey county.

Our subject was married at Devils Lake, North Dakota, to Miss Cora Conner, a native of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. McKay are the parents of three chil- dren, who are named as follows: Robert C., Iva M. and Gladys. Mr. Mckay is a man of excellent character, enterprising and hearty in his support of public enterprises which tend to the development or advancement of his community. He has been called upon by the people to serve in various local offices, and is always found ready to perform his duties faithfully and with a oneness of purpose that is commendable, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellows.

HON. EDWARD L. YAGER, county treas- urer of Benson county, is one of the representative men of North Dakota, and one of Benson county's pioneers.

Mr. Yager was born in Livingston county, Mis- souri, January 12, 1861. He and a sister younger than himself constitute the family born to the union of Dr. Edward T. and Mary ( McDonald) Yager. The father was of German descent and the mother of Scotch lineage. In 1865 the family started for California, but were diverted from their course by the reports of great gold discoveries in Alder Gulch in Montana, and drifted into that territory.

Our subject received his education principally in the Kemper Family School in Missouri, where he completed his course, and then, in 1881, he en- tered Princeton College, but his mother's health fail- ing, he was compelled to abandon his course, before he had completed the work of the senior year. Upon his mother's death, in 1883, he came to James- town, Dakota territory, with the intention of in- vesting in land. In May of that year he came to Benson county, and took up land in Antelope Val- ley. He was appointed one of the commissioners to organize Benson county and is today the only living member of that commission, and may be called the father of Benson county. He has taken great interest in the growth and de- velopment of the county, and has wielded much influence in its affairs. Also upon the admission of North Dakota into the Union, he was elected to the legislature, serving as a member of the first state senate. During the first session he was a member of the judiciary committee, the appropri- ations committee, and others of less importance. He has always been a Republican in political prin- ciples, and has served as chairman of the county central committee of his party. In 1800 and 1891 he was clerk of the Devils Lake Agency. In 1898 he was elected county treasurer of Benson county,

and in the fall of 1900 received the nomination for the second term without opposition, and is now serving in that capacity. He has, since coming to Dakota, been extensively engaged in agriculture, and has been very successful.

Mr. Yager was married, in 1891, to Miss Har- riet Niles, and to this union four children have been born: Dorothy, Imogene, Sherman M. and Mar- jorie. Mr. Yager is a Mason and a member of the Chapter, and also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

HENRY A. PALMER, residing on section 18, township 13, range 55, occupies a prominent place among the better class of agriculturists of Ransom county. He is a man of much business ability, and has met with success in every enterprise in which he has embarked. For many years he was a pros- perous business man of Lisbon, and since taking up agricultural pursuits has followed grain and stock raising with successful results. A portrait of Mr. Palmer appears on another page.

Our subject was born in Lake county, Ohio, Oc- tober 27, 1851, and was the fifth in a family of nine children born to Earl W. and Catherine (\'roman ) Palmer. At the age of twenty years he entered the shops to learn the machinist's trade, but was injured in the eye, and was compelled to give up the work. He went to Colorado in 1879, and in January, 1882, went to Lisbon, and became one of the firm of Laughlin, Palmer & Company. He was initiated into the Dakota winters by a walk of forty-five miles from Wahpeton, without heavy overcoats, and except for the good fortune of being overtaken by a freight sled would have perished before reach- ing shelter. He engaged in the implement busi- ness in Lisbon until 1886, when he moved to his farm. He is the owner of one section of land, and engages in diversified farming, making stock rais- ing a profitable source of income. He has a fine grade of short horn cattle, and has about twelve milch cows, and his hogs are full blood Poland China. His farm is conducted in a careful man- ner, and evidences prosperity.

Our subject was married, in 1889, to Miss Ida Carver, who died in 1896. Mr. Palmer married Miss Emma Oba in 1898. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he is a Republican and Pro- hibitionist, and stands firm for his convictions. He is a man who keeps pace with the times, and in all matters of a public nature will be found on the side of right and justice.

"THE CANDO RECORD," published at Cando, Towner county, North Dakota, was founded in 1889, by A. B. McDonald, and is the oldest news- paper in existence in the county. At the time it was established Towner county was intensely Dem- ocratic, and the move toward a Republican paper

HENRY A. PALMER.

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was severely criticised, yet it thrived, and as polit- ical sentiment changed the sheet became more pop- ular and now enjoys a wide circulation.

The "Record" plant was purchased by Frank D. Davis, in 1898, who had been assisting Mr. Mc- Donald on the paper for two years. Mr. Davis ably conducts the paper and it is now published as a ten-page, five-column quarto paper with a circula- tion of one thousand.

FRANK D. DAVIS, owner and publisher of the "Cando Record," is a gentleman of excellent educa- tion and divides his attention between the profes- sion of law, and the publication of the paper. He is a native of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and was the youngest in a family of five children born to Elkanah and Sarah ( McCauley ) Davis.

Mr. Davis was reared on a farmi and completed a course in the normal school, and then engaged in teaching several years. He entered the University of Minnesota, and graduated with the law class of 1893, and soon afterward formed a partnership with Frank H. Castner, in Minneapolis. The part- nership was dissolved in 1896, and Mr. Davis went to Cando, North Dakota, here he engaged in the practice of his profession and also acted as manager of the "Cando Record." He is also engaged in the real estate business and makes a success of his pro- fession and business and is one of the rising young men of North Dakota.

Our subject is prominent in public affairs, and will be the people's choice as the state's attorney for the coming term. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Pythias and Masonic frater- nity. In political sentiment he is a Republican, and is a man who keeps pace with the times, and is firm in his convictions.

BURRELL A. DANIELS is successfully pursu- ing grain and stock raising in township 149, range 64, in Eddy county, and has been a resident of that section many years. He has gained a good prop- erty, and has taken a position among the leading farmers of his comunity.

Our subject was born in Chautauqua county, New York, on a farm, January 28, 1854, and was a son of George B. and Charlotte ( Button) Daniels. His father's family had been in America many gen- erations, and his father was a farmer throughout his career, as was his father before hin, Elija Daniels.

Mr. Daniels was the fourth in a family of five children and was reared on a farm and given com- mon school advantages. After attaining his ma- jority he left home and engaged in farming and be- came the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres in his native county, where he en- gaged exclusively in dairying, and in 1878 dis- posed of his farm and rented land until the spring of 1883, when he located in Eddy county, North Dakota, entering claim to government land on the

northwest quarter of section 26, in township 149, range 64. He built a claim shanty, 14x16 feet, and farmed with oxen the first eight years. He hauled his lumber and supplies from Carrington, and when he located his farm went by team from Bartlett, North Dakota. He was kept busy during the first spring and summer helping teams out of mud holes near his place, and in July of the first season the roof of his shanty was taken off and the building moved from its place by a severe storm, and he and his wife had no other refuge from the storm than a small sod hen house, which they managed to get behind. He spent the first two years proving up on his land northeast of Tiffany, He took a claim south of Tiffany, proved up on that in 1889, and in 1890 returned to section 26, in township 149, range 64, and in 1893 built his present comfortable residence. He now has a farmi of three hundred and twenty acres, of which about two hundred and ten acres are cultivated annually, and on his home farm he has plenty of small fruits, all machinery for the conduct of a farm, and he engages in wheat and stock raising, finding the lat- ter industry as profitable as the former, and keeps from ten to forty head of stock. He has met with serious losses by hail, fire and other causes, but in the main his crops have been good, and he has met with unbounded success.

Our subject was married, in New York, March 25, 1875, to Miss Ida Fritz, a daughter of Daniel Fritz, a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Daniels died on May 8, 1879. Mr. Daniels was married to Miss Nellie Thorr, in 1881. Mrs. Daniels was a daughter of C. Thorr, a prosperous farmer of New York state, and her parents were born in Sweden, and came to America in the 'fifties, and her grand- father, Peter Peterson, came to America from near Stockholm. Mrs. Daniel's mother died, leaving her a half orphan at three years of age. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, a daughter, Ida, born August 2, 1884. Mr. Dan- iels is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he is a Republican, and is a man of broad ideas, and stands firm for his con- victions.

CHARLES H. BRISBIN. The farming inter- ests of Grand Forks county have claimed a large share of attention from all publications treating of the state of North Dakota, and prominent among the men who have aided in developing the agricultural resources of the county, must be named Charles H. Brisbin, whose pleasant home is on section 19, Walle township.

Mr. Brisbin was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, May 16, 1864. He was reared and edu- cated in that state until he reached the age of seven- teen years, when he went to Eau Claire county; Wis- consin. He engaged there in the lumber business: and also at Cloquet, Minnesota, until 1883. In that year he came to Dakota, and for two years operated

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the John B. Raymond farm in Cass county. During the next five years he was engaged in buying wheat at Hickson. In the spring of 1890 he came to Grand Forks county and purchased the farm on which he now resides. It consists of three hundred and twenty acres of as fine land as can be found in the state, and he has made many substantial im- provements npon it. He has followed farming con- tinuously, and in the meantime has purchased wheat for the Brooks Elevator Company at Thompson, dur- ing a period of three years. He has also been en- gaged to some extent in the farm machinery busi- ness.

Mr. Brisbin was married in the village of Thompson, March 24, 1896, to Miss Mary Brown. Mrs. Brisbin was born in Germantown, Wiscon- sin, and was reared in the city of Milwaukee. Mr. and Mrs. Brisbin are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows : Orville C., Alnora and Lorenz. Mr. Brisbin takes an active interest in pub- lic affairs of a local nature, and has filled various township offices including those of township assessor and supervisor, and is now chairman of the town- ship board.

ALPHONSE SABOURIN, residing on section 35. in Martin township, is one of the prominent early settlers of Walsh county, and is well known and highly respected. He has a good farm, all necessary improvements, and is surrounded by all that goes to make a pleasant rural home.

Our subject was born fifty-five miles west of Montreal, Canada, April 25, 1843, and was reared in Canada and remained there at farm work until 1880, and in the fall of that year went to what was then Dakota Territory, and soon after his arrival pre- empted a quarter-section of land in section 35 of Mar- tin township, Walsh county, where he settled and has resided thereon since that date. His buildings on the farm are substantial and convenient and with the farm machinery of the most approved style the work is easily accomplished on the place. Mr. Sa- bourin now owns three hundred and twenty acres of land and is one of the substantial men of his com- munity.

Our subject was married in Canada January 29, 1867, to Bridget Madden, a native of Canada. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sabourin, six of whom are living, and are as follows: Flora J., Bridget, Julia, Annie, Alphonse J. and Joseph J. Mary R. died when fourteen years of age ; Chris- tina married T. A. Gagnon and died at the age of twenty-six years. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Sabourin died in infancy. Mr. Sabourin de- votes himself intelligently to his calling and is suc- cessful as a result.

HON. PETER J. McCLORY, state's at- torney for Ramsey county, is a practicing at- torney of Devils Lake, where he has a fine

home and prospers in his profession. He

is associated in his work with Hon. J. F. Cowan, attorney-general of North Dakota. He was born in the city of Quebec, Canada, Septem- ber 15, 1859. When quite young he left his native place and resided in Erie, Pennsylvania, Chicago, and other places until he came to Devils Lake. North Dakota, in May, 1882, and took up a claim near Grand Harbor. He was appointed first justice of the peace when the county was organized in January, 1883, and held that office continuously until 1892. He began the study of law in 1883 and was admitted to the bar in Devils Lake, Ramsey county, in 1886. In 1884 he was elected clerk of the district court of Ramsey county and in 1886 was elected county judge and re-elected in 1888, holding the office two terms. From 1892-95 he was in the Indian service at Fort Totten, as chief clerk of the agency. He was elected state's attorney in 1894 and was re-elected in 1896 and again in 1898. He served as assistant secretary of the senate in 1889 and 1890 during the first state legislature.

Mr. McClory was married in Devils Lake, North Dakota, in 1886, to Anna M. Adamson, of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. McClory are the parents of two children, named as follows: Sherman and Margaret. It is needless to comment on the public life of our subject as he is one of the well known men of North Dakota, and is held in the highest respect and esteem by all.

JOHN W. HIGGS, proprietor of one of the finest estates of Dickey county, has acquired his property by faithful and persistent efforts, and is well known as a man of honest principles and in- dustrious and practical habits. He was one of the early settlers of that locality, and has been closely identified with the development of the farming in- terests. He is a resident of section 33, in Kent township, township 130, range 61, and every ap- pointment of his home farm bespeaks the good taste of its owner.

Mr. Higgs was born in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, April 24, 1843, and was a son of John and Mary (Billings) Higgs, the former a native of Eng- land and the latter of Wales. His father was a cap- tain in the English merchant marine for many years, and was also employed in the custom house at Liverpool. He died in Iowa, at the home of our subject.

John W. Higgs removed with his parents to England when a young child, and lived there until nine years of age, when the family returned to the United States and settled on a farm in Franklin county, Indiana, where he remained until sixteen years of age, when the father purchased land in Louisa county, Iowa, and they lived in that county until 1883, during which time his occupation was that of a farmer. After his marriage hie resided for some time on the homestead farm, and conducted the same successfully. He located in, Dickey coun-

JOHN W. HIGGS AND FAMILY.

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ty, North Dakota, in 1882, and the following year removed to Dakota, and has been a resident of that county continuously since. He has fully improved his farm and enjoys prosperity. He follows diver- sified farming, and has seventy head of well-graded short horn cattle. His farm consists of twelve hun- dred acres of land.

Our subject was married, in 1871, to Miss Blanche Tracy, a native of Muscatine, Iowa. Mrs. Higgs was born September 17, 1853, and was a daughter of Vernot and Mary Ann (Dilly) Tracy. Her father was a coachmaker by trade, which he followed in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. He was born in 1803, and Mrs. Higgs' mother was born in 1809. Mr. and Mrs. Higgs have been the parents of ten children, as follows: Austin W., Bessie M., Blanche E., Anna H., Ferdinand J., Ada D., Mary J., Archibald, Vera, and one child who died in in- fancy.

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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 143

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