Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 145

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 145

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Our subject was married, in 1871, to Miss Rosa Jonson. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thorardson, as follows: Emma, a native of Iceland, now Mrs. R. D. Swingel; John, operating an elevator at Nash, North Dakota ; Olof, deccased ; Franklin, a student at St. Peter, Minnesota; Kris- tian, deceased; O. K. Lillian and Kristin. Mr. Thorardson was called upon by the people to serve as a state representative in 1898 and served one term and was an efficient and faithful member of the general assembly. He served as chairman of the committee on election and privileges and was a member of the following committees: Military, warehouse and grain grading, forestry, taxes and tax laws. He is a Republican politically. He holds membership in the Lutheran church and Masonic fraternity and Independent Order of Foresters.

HON. SEVERT M. LEE, one of the most successful farmers and popular citizens of Nelson county, resides upon his valuable farm in Ora town- ship, and is the owner of one and one-half sections of land.

Mr. Lee was born in Borsen, Prebjeld, Throndhjem, Norway, September 14, 1847. He was the eldest of the three surviving children of Mons and Marrit ( Larsdatter) Lee. The father was the owner of the farm Leaklivt, where our sub- ject lived until he was twenty-four years of age Then, in 1871, he came to America, with the inten- tion of remaining three years, becoming better ac- quainted with the world, earning some money, and then it was his intention to return to Norway. He went to Michigan and was there employed for ten seasons in the lumber districts. He then converted all his personal property into ready money and started for Dakota. He reached Fargo in July, 1881, and began a search for desirable land. In 1882 he went to Portland. Traill county, and opened a hotel, the Lee House, the first hotel in Portland. In February, 1887, he came to Nelson county and located on land to which he had filed claim in 1883. The first three years were most discouraging : he lost money each year and he was on the point of aban- doning the attempt when, in 1891, he was rewarded by a fine crop and determined to remain. From two hundred acres he harvested seven thousand bushels of wheat. He has since added to his hold- ings by purchase until his tillable lands aggregate

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about nine hundred acres and he is to-day the most extensive farmer in Ora township. He erected a suitable residence in 1887 and also a fine barn and other outbuildings, and has his farm fitted up with all modern conveniences for the conduct of the busi- ness of agriculture.

Mr. Lee was married, in 1876, to Miss Ingeborg Solberg, and to them six children have been born, named as follows: Martine, a graduate of the Grand Forks Business College; Ole, a student in the same institution; Gertina, Maria, Louis and Clara. Mr. Lee is a Populist in political views and has been active in local political matters. He served two years as deputy sheriff of Traill county and has taken a leading part in party affairs in Nelson coun- ty. In 1892 he was elected on the fusion ticket to the state legislature and served on some of the most important house committees during his term of serv- ice, including the committees on public printing, railroads, schools and school lands, warehouse com- mission and forestry. He favors woman's suffrage and is an ardent supporter of the reform movement. He is a member of the Populist county central com- mittee and has attended all state conventions of his party. He is one of the most popular and success- ful men of the county and has won his way into the confidence of all who know him.

FRED M. DOMPIER, a prominent and enter- prising business man of Towner, McHenry coun- ty, is a native of Vermont and was born on a farm July 15, 1863. He is engaged in the meat business and also conducts an extensive ranch near Towner and has accumulated his possessions since taking up his residence in Dakota.

Our subject's father, Isaac Dompier, was born in France and came to America about 1850. He was a well digger and farmer. Of a family of seven children our subject was the second in order of birth. He has one half-sister and one half-brother. He was reared on a farm and received a limited schooling, and at the age of thirteen years left home and hired out at farm work, selling wood, etc., and at the age of sixteen entered the city school at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, paying his own way, and after completing his studies there he began business pur- suits in Maudada, Minnesota. He remained there two years and in 1882 went to South Dakota. He soon afterward purchased horses and worked for others in Potter county and later took a pre-emption claim and began farming for himself. He freighted from Pierre to Forest City and LaBeau and spent three years in Potter county. He went to North Dakota in 1885 on a visit and looked over the coun- try along the Mouse river and selected land one-half mile west of Towner, and in the spring of 1886 sold his interests in Potter county, South Dakota, and with his family went to North Dakota. He began stock raising with sixteen head of cattle and built a log shanty and the first two weeks camped out. He drove overland from South Dakota and followed

ranching there five years and then sold the ranch and purchased another in Pierce county, twenty-five miles southeast of Towner. He invested in sheep and cattle raising and also horses and resided there seven years and then removed to Towner for permanent residence. He had spent the winters in Towner for some years. He now has a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres with limitless range, and has plenty of timber, spring water and a complete set of buildings and his farm is one of the best improved in the coun- ty. In 1899 onr subject established a meat mar- ket in Towner and in 1900 erected a two-story brick building which will be used for a market on the ground floor and the second story is devoted to a billiard hall and opera house and is the finest building in the county. Mr. Dompier has met with severe losses during the winters since locating in North Dakota, but has remained to gather a good estate and enjoys a good income.

Our subject was married, in Minnesota, January 7, 1883, to Miss Lusetta Lattin, a native of New York. Mrs. Dompier is a daughter of John Lattin, a pioneer settler of North Dakota. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dompier, who are named as follows: Jessie M., Lenn J., Orpha L., Lee A., Fred M. and Alice E. Mr. Dompier is a Republican politically and is a man of intelligence and keeps pace with the times.

JAMES D. TRAMMELL, one of the pioneer settlers of Cass county, is widely and favorably known, and has acquired an excellent property by good management and the exercise of sound judg- ment. He makes his home at Everest, and was en- gaged in farming many years in Everest township. On another page will be found a portrait of Mr. Trammell.

Our subject was born near Fairfax Court House, Fairfax county, Virginia, January 8, 1843, and was one of three sons born to Israel and Clar- issa (Lanham) Trammell, natives. respectively of New York and Virginia. One of the sons is de- ceased, and one resides on the old homestead farm in Virginia. The father was a farmer and removed to Virginia with his parents. The grandfather of our subject, Jerat Trammell, was a native of Hol- land, and he and the father of our subject died in Virginia.

James D. Trammell was reared and educated in Virginia, and engaged in farming there until 1883. when he removed to Cass county, North Dakota, and purchased land in Maple township. He re- mained on the farm there many years and operated the same successfully.

Our subject was married, in 1864, to Isabella Wells, a native of Virginia. Mrs. Trammell died in 1886, leaving ten cluldren, as follows: Edward, Etta, Asa, Albert, Amy, Nellie, May, Sidney, now in Company B, Fourth Cavalry, in Manila ; Hardie and Cleveland. Mr. Trammell was married, later,

JAMES D. TRAMMELL.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

to Elizabeth McGregor, a native of Canada. Mr. Trammell is one of the best known men of his com- munity, and has served his township in various of- fices, including chairman of the township board. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Masonic fraternity, and is a gentleman of excellent character, and merits his high position in the minds of his associates.

WILLIAM A. WILSON occupies a prominent and influential position as a member of the farming community of Ramsey county, in Grand Harbor township, of which he owns a pleasant home. He has resided in section 13 continuously since the early settlement of that region and his efforts have met with unbounded success.

Our subject was born in Lock Haven, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1854. He lived at his native place until he was sixteen years of age, when he left Pennsylvania and lived in different states and followed various occupations until 1880, when he located in North Dakota. In the early sum- mer of that year he went to East Grand Forks, where he remained two years and was employed grading on the Great Northern Railroad. He settled on his present farm in June, 1882, and has devoted his attention to farming since that date, with the exception of about two years, when he was engaged in freighting from Larimore to Grand Harbor and he also followed farming. He has made good im- provements on his home place and now owns and operates five hundred and twenty acres of choice land and ranks among the foremost men of his call- ing in the county.

Our subject was married, in Olmstead county, Minnesota, to Miss Dora Conner, a native of Mc- Gregor, Iowa. Mrs. Wilson was reared in Olm- stead county, Minnesota. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, who are named as fol- lows : Pearl R., Mary L., William H. and Elsie F. Mr. Wilson has served as a member of the township board of supervisors and chairman of the board and also as chairman of the school board, and is a man who keeps abreast of the times and lends his influence for the upbuilding of the business and social interests of his adopted state.

HENRY LANGELIER is well known as an old settler and prosperous farmer of Grand Forks county. He resides in section 33 in Rye township.

Our subject was born in Lower Canada Decem- ber 8, 1830. His parents, Isaac and Julia ( Le Mai) Langelier, were natives also of Canada and removed to Massachusetts in 1848 and passed the remainder of their lives there. They were the parents of two sons and three daughters and our subject is the only one residing in North Dakota.

Mr. Langelier was reared in Canada until 1848 and then learned the trade of a shoemaker, which he followed over thirty years. He went to St. Paul,

Minnesota, in 1876, and two years later went to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, and entered a homestead claim in section 33 in Rye township, and was among the first settlers of the county. He is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land, all of which is improved and tillable and from which he gains a good income.

Our subject was married, in Massachusetts, in 1853, to Modest Beaulac, a native of Canada. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Langelier, who are named as follows: Emma, now Mrs. Larivee, widow of Joseph Larivee, also a pioneer ; Delia, now Mrs. Saumur, widow of Philip Saumur; and Olive, now Mrs. Bidon, of St. Paul. Mrs. Langelier died in 1898. The family are mem- bers of the Catholic church and have a host of friends in their community. Mr. Langelier assisted in the organization of the township and has filled numerous local offices of trust and is highly esteemed as a citizen and pioneer.

PHILLIP SAUMUR, deceased, one of the early settlers of Rye township, was born at St. Martin, Canada, September 26, 1850. His parents, John and Adelaide (Reneaud ) Saumur, were natives of Canada and spent their lives there.

Mr. Saumur was reared and educated in Canada until 1867, when he came to the United States and settled in Massachusetts, where he was employed in a shoe factory. He removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1875, and followed his trade there two years and in 1878 went to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, and entered claim to land as a homestead in Rve township, where Mrs. Saumur now resides. He improved and added to the farm and possessed four hundred acres at the time of his demise.

Our subject was married, November 9, 1873, to Delia Langelier, a daughter of Henry Langelier, a sketch of whom appears above in this work. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Saumur, who are as follows: Dora A., now Mrs. A. Dubuque, of Grand Forks county ; Modest J .; Clara, deceased ; Corine M .; Phillip F. and George H. E. Mr. Saumur died January 24, 1892. He was mourned by a large circle of relatives and friends, as he was an exemplary citizen and well known.

ELISHA B. PAGE. Benson county can boast some of the most beautiful as well as the most valuable estates in North Dakota, and among these none is more deserving of mention than that of the gentleman of whom this article is written. Mr. Page has one of the most pleasantly situated homes in Benson county, his residence being located on sec- tion 1I, of Leeds township.

Elisha B. Page was born in Greene county, Illi- nois, September 22, 1866. He was the eldest of seven children born to Elisha W. and Anna (Williams) Page, both residents of Girard, Illinois, where the early boyhood of our subject was spent and where he worked on the farm and attended the country schools until he was sixteen years of age. He then

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spent one year in the Hibbard, Bryant & Stratton Commercial School and then was employed two years in a commission house in St. Louis, where he had charge of the shipping department. He spent the winter of 1878 in Alabama and in the spring of 1888 he came to Dakota, arriving at Churchs Ferry April 4, with a party of about fifteen members. A heavy snow lay on the ground and as ther was no shelter for the stock Mr. Page was compelled to tramp seven miles and shovel out an old barn to pass the night in. At that time he was the owner of two mules, one horse, an old binder, a wagon and seventy-five dollars in money. He located a pre- emption claim on section 1 and a school mate, Will- iam S. Fox, settled on land near by. Mr. Page built a shanty, 12x16 feet, and for over three years served himself as cook and housekeeper. In 1890 he moved his shanty on his homestead to the site of his present residence. His first three seasons were disastrous and the winter of 1890-91 found him without money. Having taken up engineering in his early days, he now went to Minot, where he soon found employment, and having saved a little money he returned to his farm in the spring of 1891, de- termined to make a final effort. He put in two hun- dred acres of wheat and from this harvested six thousand bushels, which he sold at seventy-two cents per bushel. During the fall he followed threshing and this, with his crop, put him on his feet again financially. He has followed threshing each fall in Benson county and has found it profitable. He has from time to time added to his land holdings and now is the owner of eleven hundred and twenty acres, one thousand of which is cultivated annually, His bar, 42x100 feet, with stone basement, affords shelter for his stock and storage for two hundred and forty tons of hay and is one of the finest buildings of the kind in the county. He has an elevator on his farm, erected in 1898, with a capacity of fifteen thousand bushels, equipped with modern machinery, gasoline engine, dump and loading bin, feed and cleaning mill, etc. His residence is protected by one of the finest groves in the northwest, upon which he has bestowed much care.

Mr. Page was married, in 1891, to Miss Birdie Atkins, and to this nnion three children have been born, namely,-Laura W., Elisha H. and Walter St. C. In politics Mr. Page is a Democrat. He has taken an active interest in public matters and wielded an influence in local affairs, although the Democrats are in the minority in Benson county. Mr. Page is a member of the Presbyterian church and a Master Mason.

HON. THOMAS E. NELSON, a member of the general merchandise firm of Hegge & Nelson, of Hatton, is a man of good business qualifications, and has been closely connected with the financial and social growth of that thriving town, and is one of the pioneer merchants.

Our subject was born in Land, Norway, No-

vember 6, 1853, and was the fourth of eight chil- dren born to Erick and Karen (Thorston) Nelson, both of whom are living in Wisconsin. He came to America in 1862 and began at farm work in Vernon county, Wisconsin. He attended business college at La Crosse, and also worked in a hardware store and in the office of the city treasurer. In the spring of 1882 the present firm was formed, and our sub- ject went to Dakota in quest of a location to estab- lish a general merchandise business. He went di- rectly to Portland and soon located in Hatton, and there established the first general store which lo- cated there permanently. They placed their stock in a 16x24-foot building and began what has re- sulted in a very profitable and prosperous business. They moved to their present location in 1884, and are now among the prominent business men of the town.

Onr subject was married, in 1887, to Miss Ma- tilda Nelson. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, as follows: Alice C., Edgar, Evelyn and Franklin A. Mr. Nelson was elected as a state representative in 1894, and while a mem- ber of the house served on the ways and means and appropriation committees, and was identified with railroad legislation. He is a Republican in polit- ical sentiment, and is a supporter of prohibition movements, and has attended numerous county and state conventions of his party. He is well known for his active public spirit, and every enterprise for the upbuilding of the town has met with his hearty approval and support. A portrait of Mr. Nelson is presented with this sketch.

THE "CANDO HERALD," owned and pub- lished by James Fogerty, at Cando, North Dakota, is one of the widely circulated and popular papers of Towner county. It was established .in 1894 by H. J. Marshall, and in 1895 H. C. Meacham was admitted as a partner. Mr. Meacham became sole proprietor in 1896 and the plant was purchased by Mr. Fogerty in 1898, who is now its editor.

The "Herald" is an eight-page seven-column quarto paper and has been increased from a four- page quarto since owned by our subject. The paper is Republican in political sentiment and has a cir- culation of six hundred and fifty copics. The office will soon be fitted with a cylinder press and gasoline engine. The plant is well equipped for job work and the paper is rapidly increasing in popularity.

JAMES FOGERTY, editor of the "Cando Herald," is a young man of good capacity and has made a success of newspaper work. He is also proprietor

of a fine farm near Cando and is one of the substan- tial men of Towner county. He was born in Suffolk, England, January 18, 1864, and was a son of John and Janet ( Forbes) Fogerty. He came to America with his parents when he was about six years of age and was reared in New York, and there entered the job printing office of J. W. Pratt & Son, and re- mained with them until 1886. He then with his

HON. THOMAS E. NELSON.

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mother and brothers, went to North Dakota and set- tled on a farm in township 157, range 67, in Towner county, and followed farming until 1890. He then worked at his trade in St. Paul and Minneapolis until 1893. He has conducted the Cando Herald since 1898 and meets with good success in the work, and aside from the duties in newspaper work he operates a half section of land, and enjoys a comfort- able competence.

Our subject was married in 1899 to Miss Lillie Royer. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fogerty, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Janet E. Mr. Fogerty is identified with the Republican party politically and is secretary of the Republican county central committee.

R. H. WATSON, whose home is in Willow City, Bottineau county, belongs to that large con- tingent that Canada has sent over to the making of Dakota. It is little enough to say that he sustains all the best traditions of his lineage. His father, John Watson, was a farmer, a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1847. His wife, Mary Dowd, was born and reared in Ireland.

R. H. Watson was the fifth in a family of eight children, and was reared on the Canadian farm. He had a common-school education, and when he at- tained manhood left home and took up the burden of life for himself. He was born in 1861, and in 1884 he bought land near Orangeville, and began a farm- ing career. He was there nine years and had a farm of one hundred acres, with about ninety under cul- tivation and good buildings. It compared well with the neighoring places, and he was certainly suc- successful while there. But it was too contracted. He wanted room. He sold out and in the fall of 1893 made his appearance in Willow City, where he established a drug store. Two years later he moved it to his present location on Main street, and put up a handsome and commodious building 24x60 feet, having drugs in front and a general store in the rear. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres east of the city, and engages in farming to a limited extent, and perhaps more for pleasure than for profit. He was married to Miss Adeline Hutch- inson, in Canada, December 31, 1894. She was born in Peel county, Ontario, and her father, Hugh Hutchinson, was a farmer. His people were born in Ireland. She is the mother of three children, Mil- dred, Eva and Wilbur. Mr. Watson is an independ- ent voter and seeks the best interests of the country rather than the promotion of party bigotry. He is a Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

THOMAS CARR, a prosperous and success- ful agriculturist of Grand Forks county, whose pleasant home is located on section 29 of Walle township, is counted among the pioneers of Dakota.

Mr. Carr was born in Wayne county, Pennsyl-

vania, November 25, 1833. He was reared on a farm in his native state until he was eighteen years old, receiving such education as could be gleaned from the public schools of the day. He then went to New London, Connecticut, and there shipped on board a whaling vessel, and went to New Zealand, and thence to the Arctic ocean. They returned to the Sandwich Islands for supplies and then visited the coast of California. From there they proceeded down the coast to Chili, and he was there discharged from the ship. Shortly after he found employment on an English steamer engaged in the coasting trade among the South American states, and visited Chili, Bolivia, Peru and other countries along the coast. He then shipped on board a merchantman from Cal- lao to Valencia, Spain. Thence he went to the West Indies, to Liverpool and finally to New Orleans. After a short time there he came up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, thence to Chicago, and then for two years followed the lakes, a portion of the time as common sailor and a portion of the time as mate On leaving the lakes he went to Pierce county, Wis- consin. He purchased land there and engaged in farming until 1863. In March of that year .he en- listed in Company F, Thirty-Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was at the siege of Petersburg and in nu- merous skirmishes and fights. At the close of the war he returned to his farm in Pierce county, Wis- consin, and remained there until 1878. It was in the spring of 1878 that he came to Grand Forks county, and located on the farm where lie now re- sides, and which has since been his home. He is now the owner of eight hundred acres of the best land in the state, and has enhanced his estate with many improvements and conveniences. He has been engaged in agriculture continuously since coming to Dakota, and has been successful.

Mr. Carr was married in Pierce county to Miss Helen Pike, who was born in Ohio. To that union six children were born, named as follows: Frank; Belle, now Mrs. Charles Taulby ; Angie, now Mrs. Parmenter ; Thomas E .; Edna; and Helen. Mrs. Helen Carr died in Grand Forks county May 16, 1885. MIr. Carr's second marriage took place in Grand Forks county, Miss Edna Woodward becom- ing his wife. Mrs. Carr is a native of Wisconsin, and is an accomplished lady. Mr. Carr takes a deep interest in all matters of a public nature affecting his county and community, and has been chosen to various township offices. His integrity, good fellow- ship and public spirit have won him a host of friends.

OLE SERUMGARD, register in the United States land office at Devils Lake, North Dakota, is one of the public spirited and enterprising citizens of his locality, and enjoys the highest esteem and confidence of his fellowmen. He is engaged in the farm machinery business in Devils Lake in com- pany with Mr. Prosser, and has met with success

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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 145

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