Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 148

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

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At the close of the war Judge Winchester re- turned to his home in New York and completed his education. In 1867 he entered Amherst Col- lege, Massachusetts, where he spent two years in study, and in 1870 went to Davenport, Iowa, where he was employed as a reporter on the daily and weekly "Democrat" for six months. He then ac- cepted the position of principal of the Cordova

HON. WALTER H. WINCHESTER.

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Academy at Cordova, Illinois, which he filled for one year and then returned to New York, where he commenced the study of law in his native town under John I. Gilbert, a well-known attorney of northern New York. 'Subsequently he served as principal of the Fort Covington Academy, New York, for three years, at the end of which time he entered the law department of Albany University, graduating from that institution in 1873. After his admission to the bar, in 1873, he began practice in his native county, and remained there until coming to Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1883. Here he has since successfully engaged in practice and is recog- nized as one of the ablest attorneys of the state.

On the 16th of September, 1873. Judge Win- chester married Miss Ella S. Kimball, also a native of New York, and to them have been born three chil- dren : Edith,now the wife of Lieutenant Conklin, of First North Dakota Volunteer Infantry ; Edna May and Harold E.

Since attaining his majority the Judge has been identified with the Republican party, and has taken an active part in campaign work in Burleigh county. For six years he has most ably and satis- factorily served as county superintendent of schools, and in 1889 was elected judge of the sixth judicial district, in which capacity he is still serving. On May 14, 1900, he was unanimously renominated for the fourth term. Fair and impartial in his rulings, he has gained the respect and confidence of his pro- fessional brethren, and is held in high regard by all who know him. Fraternally he is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has served as senior vice-commander ; is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine, and has been master of the home lodge for two years, and a member of the I. O. O. F.

ANTON HANSON. An early settler and prominent farmer of Benson county, whose pleas- ant home is located on section 34 of Leeds town- ship, is one of the thrifty sons of Norway who have aided so materially in the prosperity and growth of the great Northwest.

Mr. Hanson was born in Snertingsdalen Birid Prestegjeld, Norway, August 26, 1860. He was the fourth child in a family of nine children born to Hans and Anna (Hendricksdatter) Hanson, both of whom are still living in Norway. In the spring of 1875 Mr. Hanson came to America to join his brother John, who had preceded him a few years, and who sent him passage money to bring him to the United States. He obtained employment as a farm hand in lowa, and worked around in this way until 1880, when he came to Dakota, and found work on the Gould farm in Traill county. There he remained for five years, and two years of that time he acted in the capacity of manager of the farm. In the spring of 1885 he came to Benson county, and took up land in Lake Ibsen township, but the following year he "squatted" upon the land he now

owns. He has been successful since coming to Benson county, and is now the owner of four hun- dired and eighty acres of valuable lands, most of which is under the plow. A sod house, 16x16, which served them as a home for several years, has given place to his present comfortable residence, which was completed in 1898.

Mr. Hanson was married, in 1885. to Miss Birget Tufte, and to this union seven children have been born, as follows: Anna, the first white child born in Leeds township; Clara, Oscar, Howard, Estalles, Elmer and Laura. Mr. Hanson is a Re- publican in his political inclinations, and has taken an active part in local public affairs. He has rarely 'been absent from a county convention of his party, and has been appointed census enumerator for the northeastern portion of Benson county. Mr. Han- son is a consistent member of the Norwegian Lu- theran church, and is esteemed and respected throughout the county. He came to America at the age of fourteen years, worked his way among men foreign to his people and language, and by virtue of his energy, honest dealings and good management, has made himself a man of influence in his adopted land.

JOHN S. DARLING, residing in township 140, range 73, in Kidder county, is one of the most prosperous and energetic farmers of the county. He has a fine estate of one hundred and sixty acres and annually crops about five hundred acres of land. He also raises fine stock, including horses, and has made a success of his work.

Our subject was born on a farm at Kingston, Ontario, Canada. His father, Charles Darling, was a farmer throughout his career. The grand- mother was of German descent and his grandfather was a Yankee, and went to Canada about 1812. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Kate Spooner, and she was born in Canada. The father died when our subject was but twelve years of age.

Mr. Darling was the eighth in a family of twelve children, three of whom died in infancy. He was raised on a farm in Canada and received little schooling, and at the age of eighteen years left home home and went to Michigan where he worked in the lumber woods two years and in 1883 came to North Dakota and settled in Kidder county, and the next year entered claim to government land. For five years after he left home he aided in the support of the family and after purchasing his ticket to North Dakota had but five dollars in money. He worked for others during 1883-84 and sent a good share of his earnings to his mother, and in 1884 began the improvement of his farm. He built a small shanty and he and his two brothers put in twenty acres of wheat and seventeen acres of oats. Crops then varied for the next few years, from almost a total failure to fairly good crops, and the first four years cur subject lived alone and endured the hard-

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ships of pioneer life. He also engaged in threshing and had a twelve-horse-power steam rig, and has followed that line of work each season for the past fifteen years, and is the only farmer to make a suc- cess of threshing in Kidder county. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of choice land, all of which is under cultivation, and has all machinery necessary for operating a farm of seven hundred acres and rents additional land each year. He is also interested in raising fine stock and has ten head of brood mares, twenty-four head of cattle and seventy head of sheep. He has a fine residence, one of the best to be found in the township, and has gained his possessions and a comfortable home by his per- sistent efforts and has cancelled his indebtedness dollar for dollar, and is now in comfortable circum- stances.

Mr. Darling was elected supervisor of his town- ship in 1900, and is actively interested in the wel- fare of his community. He is a stanch Republican, and is a man who keeps pace with the times.

EDWARD O'CONNOR, deceased. In

the death of Mr. O'Connor, Grand Forks county and the state of North Dakota lost a most exemplary citizen, a man of public spirit, and a gentleman in whose public and private life are found those evi- dences of the highest traits of man's character.

Mr. O'Connor came to Grand Forks county from Canada in 1883. For a time he was engaged in the saloon business in the city, but in 1889 he purchased a farm in Americus township, where he made his home and engaged in farming until the time of his death. He was an enterprising and successful agriculturist, and added to his holdings until his landed estates comprised eight hundred acres. He also owned a brick block in the city of Grand Forks, erected by him in 1885. His farm property was equipped with all modern facilities for conducting agriculture on modern lines, and his home was surrounded by all the comforts of country life.

Mr. O'Connor took an active interest in all mat- ters of a public nature, and at the time of his death was serving his second term as county commis- sioner. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all. regardless of political lines, and his integrity, sense of justice, and upright life won to him the respect and regard of all men of worth in the county.

Mr. O'Connor was married in Ontario, Canada, to Miss Nora Lane. Mrs. O'Connor was born in County Limerick, Ireland, and was reared to womanhood in Canada. To this union were born the following children, now living: Mary, Mich- ael M., William V., Thomas J., Stephen L., Charles A. and James F. Of the deceased children, Ed- ward J. died in Grand Forks, February 4, 1894, aged twenty-five years. At the time of his death, and for some years prior to that time, he held the position of teller in the Union National Bank, of

Grand Forks. Raymond.P. died at the age of five months. Mr. O'Connor's family joined him in Grand Forks in 1884, coming from Canada the year following his arrival in the county.

Few men have been so universally esteemed and held in high regard, and few men have left so deep an impression upon the public policy of a county as did Mr. O'Connor. His death occurred January 30, 1894.

JAMES FINNIE lives on section 28, Oakville township, Grand Forks county, and has played a man's part in the development of the Red river valley. He was born in Hope township, Northum- berland county, Canada, and was reared on a farm in Peterboro county in that province. There he remained until his advent in North Dakota. He was married, in Peterboro county, to Miss Mary J. Buttery, who was a native of Northumberland county. They remained in Canada until three chil- dren had been born to them. Their growing fam- ily suggested the need of more land and they sought it in the Northwest.

In the spring of 1881 Mr. Finnie and his wife, with their three children, settled on section 28, Oakville township, and here they have remained, fighting a hard contest with nature. They have grandly succeeded and now own and operate an agricultural establishment worthy to be compared with any to be found in the regions of their youth. They own two full sections of land, twelve hun- dred and eighty acres, and are amply supplied with every sort of appliance necessary to comfort or convenience in business. They are the parents of six living children : David, Almira, Telford, Will- iam, Nellie and Earl, and have buried one son, Henry. He was nineteen years of age at the time of his death. Mr. Finnie has taken an active part in local affairs and has been a member of the town- ship board for several years. He and his wife are associated with the Emerado Methodist Episcopal church and are active workers in everything that relates to the moral and religious welfare of the community.

LUCIUS B. FANCHER, county superintend- ent of schools in Ramsey county, whose home is in Devils Lake, is making an enviable record as one of the foremost educators of the state. He is thorough, systematic, and well educated, and is an earnest worker for the advancement of the pub- lic school system of North Dakota.

Our subject was born in Du Page county, Illi- nois, August 3, 1860, and was reared on a farm, and removed with his parents to Martin county, Minnesota, when he was four years of age, and when ten years of age settled in Fairmont, where the father moved owing to his election as clerk of the district court of Martin county. There our subject grew to manhood and received a liberal

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education and attended the Mankato State Normal, where he took the advanced course and graduated in 1879, and also took special courses in different lines and a business course in Minneapolis. After graduating from the State Normal he was employed as deputy auditor of Martin county, and was thus engaged about a year and a half, and then followed various vocations until he engaged in teaching as a profession. He was principal of the schools at Jackson and at Sherburn, Minnesota, and went to Mayville, North Dakota, in the fall of 1885 and as- sumed charge of the city schools and remained three years in that capacity, and in the fall of 1888 was elected superintendent of the city schools at Devils Lake, and was also principal of the high school. He held the position until the close of the school year in 1894, when he resigned and was elected county superintendent of schools in Ramsey coun- ty. He did very efficient work and was re-elected in 1896 and again in 1898 and is now serving his third term in that office.

Our subject was married near Mankato, Min- nesota, to Miss Amelia A. Bradley, a native of Illi- nois. Mr. and Mrs. Fancher are the parents of three children, named as follows: Harlan R., Hazel and Carroll B. For several years Mr. Fan- cher was secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, at Devils Lake, and he was one of the incorporators of the Devils Lake Chautauqua Association, and served as its first corresponding secretary, and was a member of the committee that selected the beautiful grounds of that now famous summer resort. He is prominent in state educa- tional work and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people among whom he labors.

HARRIS A. OAKLAND occupies a prominent place as a well-to-do and progressive member of the farming community of Nelson county, in Norway township of which he has an excellent farm of four hundred and eighty acres. He resides on section 28 and has a thoroughly improved estate and a home of great comfort.

Our subject was born in Jackson county, Wis- consin, May 29, 1858. He was the eldest in a fam- ily of seven children born to Aanen and Karrie ( Halverson ) Oakland, both of whom were natives of Bergen Stift, Norway. His parents were mar- ried in this country and now reside in Jackson coun- ty, Wisconsin. At the age of twenty years our sub- ject entered Galesville University and remained two years, preparing for the profession of teaching. which he followed from 1880 to 1885. In the spring of the last named year he went to North Dakota with his team, a wagon and a limited amount of money, and looked over Cavalier, Foster, Eddy, Walsh and Pembina counties, and finally chose his present location, filing claim to the land as a home- stead, and he thereon erected a 12x16-foot house and began breaking the land in the summer of 1885. He taught school several winters and developed the

farm as rapidly as possible, but did not begin farm- ing for himself until 1800. He now has a good farm, well improved, and has made a success of his calling in Nelson county.

Our subject was married, in 1890, to Miss Jennie Loc, a native of Blue Earth county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Oakland are the parents of four chil- dren, named as follows: Albert, Ida Julia, Lydia and Clara. Mr. Oakland joined the Populist party early in their existence and was one of the active organizers of the reform party and was prominent in party affairs in southern Nelson county. He was a candidate on the first ticket placed in the field and made a close run for the office. He attended the state convention in 1892, and numerous county conventions. He holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Our subject is a gen- tleman of true public spirit and is deservedly held in high esteem by his associates.

RASMUS SORENSEN, residing on section 29, of Webster township, is proprietor of an elegant farm, which he has accumulated since taking up his residence in North Dakota. He is one of the early settlers of that region and has been thoroughly identified with its progress and development.

Our subject was born in Denmark, May 19, 1859. He was reared in his native land and con- tinued his residence there until 1880, when he emi- grated to America to seek his fortunes in the new world. He went to Meeker county, Minnesota, and resided there until 1882, in the spring of which vear he became a resident of Ramsey county and located on a farm on which he has since been a resident. He has continued the improvement of his farm and now enjoys a comfortable, home, sur- rounded by good improvements and is the owner of one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land and is one of the substantial men of his township.

Our subject was married in Webster township, Ramsey county, North Dakota, to Miss Johanna Anderson, a native of Sweden. Five children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sor- ensen, upon whom they have bestowed the follow- ing names: Christian, Hilda, Alfred, Minnie and Agnes. Mr. Sorensen takes a hearty and intelligent interest in public affairs of his township and has hield numerous offices of trust, including a member of the township board of supervisors.

SAMUEL BRAY, who enjoys the distinction of being the very first settler of western Brenna township, Grand Forks county, has followed agri- cultural pursuits there since his first settlement.

Our subject is a native of Cornwall, England, and was born November 14. 1835. His parents, Richard and Catherine ( Davey ) Bray, were natives also of Cornwall and passed their lives there. The father was a miner by occupation. They were the

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parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, of whom our subject and two brothers are the only ones in the United States.

Mr. Bray was reared in Cornwall, England, until 1862, when he went to Wales and spent ten years there and in 1872 came to the United States. He located in Upper Michigan and followed copper mining six years, and in 1878 went to Grand Forks county, North Dakota. He at once located on the claim where he now resides in section 19 of Brenna township, and has followed general farming there- on continuously since that date.

He now owns a quarter-section of land, and has a highly cultivated tract and a comfortable home thereon.

Our subject was married in England, in 1857, to Grace Bryan. Two children were born to this union, who were named Richard T. and William J. Mrs. Bray died about 1861. Mr. Bray was subsequently married in Wales about 1867 to Mary Binan. Mrs. Bray died in 1889 leaving two daugh- ters, named Mary J. and Anna M. Our subject was later married to Mary J. Hall. Mrs. Bray died in 1897. Our subject is a gentleman of active public spirit and keeps pace with the times. He is a Republican and a leader of his party in Brenna township. He has filled numerous township offices of trust, including township supervisor and school officer.

HONORABLE HENRY C. HANSBROUGH, United States senator from North Dakota, and one of the most prominent figures on the stage of na- tional politics of the present day, is a resident of Devils Lake, North Dakota, and was born in Randolph county, Illinois, January 30, 1848. His father, Eliab Hansbrough, and his mother, Sarah Hansbrough (nee Hagen), were both natives of Kentucky; his forefathers, on his father's side, were Virginians. Eliab Hansbrough was a firm friend and supporter of Henry Clay, and received from the great Kentuckian many tokens of ap- preciation of his friendship. Like many another man who is now prominent in the affairs of the nation, Henry C. Hansbrough's early education was lim- ited to that which the public schools could offer. He learned the art of printing in San Jose, Califor- nia, and leaving that place for San Francisco en- tered the employment of the "Chronicle," ultimately becoming assistant managing editor of that paper. His health failing him, he moved to Baraboo, Wis- consin, still continuing in journalistic work. Be- coming infected with the Dakota fever, he moved to Grand Forks in 1881, and established the "News" in that city. In 1883 he sold the "News" and removed to Devils Lake and founded the "Inter- Ocean," which he still owns. A stanch Re- publican and naturally of an aggressive tem- perament, he interested himself from the first actively in politics, both local and state; was appointed postmaster and twice elected mayor

of his town. The question of statehood for the Territory was being agitated, and about 1885 the campaign for its division and admission as two states was actively inaugurated. There were three men in the northern part of the territory especially active in the advocacy of division-Waldo MI. Pot- ter, of the "LaMoure County Chronicle ;" George B. Winship, of the "Grand Forks Herald," and H. C. Hansbrough. The campaign culminated in the territorial convention which was called in Jamestown June 1, 1888, to select a delegation to the national convention held in Chicago, which nominated Ben- jamin Harrison. It was generally understood that congress would pass the enabling act during the winter of 1888-9, and plans were laid with that end in view. At that convention the south end of the territory, which was unanimous for division, came up with full delegations in a special train from Sioux Falls. Caucuses were held on the train and it was unanimously resolved en route to support Mr. Hansbrough as one of the delegates to the national convention from the northern part of the state, so that when the southern representatives arrived he was practically elected. Mr. Hansbrough had his own county and the territory west of him supporting his candidacy; a combination was made with Cass county, the delegation from which was headed by N. K. Hubbard, and with the delegates from the southern part of the territory, the agree- ment being that Hubbard and Hansbrough were to be on the delegation, and in case of the division of the territory Hansbrough was to be national com- mitteeman from North Dakota. The agreement was carried out, and Mr. Hansbrough served eight years on the national committee. After the con- vention was over it was the frequent boast of the anti-divisionists, in the northern part of the state. that Hansbrough would never be heard from again. When division became an accomplished fact they un- dertook to punish him for his work in its behalf. At that time he had no idea of running for any office. as he was doing a fairly good business with his sev- eral papers and other enterprises that he was in- terested in, and desired to devote his entire at- tention thereto, but some of his opponents seemed to fear that he would be a factor in the first state convention and commenced a campaign of antagon- ism to him personally. This aroused his friends. who had stood with him in the division of the ter- ritory ; and it can well be understood that there were many ardent divisionists after the admission of the territory as two states, and before the first state con- vention met Mr. Hansbrough had practically been forced into a position where he was obliged to be a candidate for congress. After a memorable struggle in that convention he received the nomi- nation and was elected by the largest majority ever received by any party candidate in the state. He carried the same energy and vim into his public career that he had shown in his private life. During his term in congress there were many perplexing questions to settle and necessary legislation to be

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passed incident to the admission of a new state into the union. In the adjustment of these questions and the securing of the enactment into the law of the needed measures he was very successful. Dur- ing his first session the question of curtailing the powers of the Louisiana Lottery, which had en- deavored to transplant itself in the state of North Dakota, came up, and Mr. Hansbrough, as the anthor of the anti-lottery bill, can claim more than any other one individual the credit of stamping out that institution. But notwithstanding the large majority he received, and his successful work in the house, the convention in August, 1890, defeated him for renomination by a narrow majority. A defeat at that particular epoch in his career would have crushed many men, but before even the vote was declared he announced himself as a candidate for the United States senate at the election to be determined by the legislature to be elected that same fall. He excited the admiration of even his opponents by the manly way in which he took his defeat for congress. He placed huis services at the command of the state committee and worked strenuously for the success of the ticket. When the legislature convened in 1891 his claims to a seat in the United States senate were urged by his friends, and after a hard and exciting fight he was elected to that coveted position. In 1897 he was re-elected to succeed himself, receiving the unanimous support of all the Republican voters in the first formal ballot in caucus.

During his senatorial career Senator Hans- brough has maintained his established reputation as a worker in the interests of his state. No legis- lation of a nature likely to redound to the advantage of North Dakota has been neglected. Of a pleasing personality and address, he has made many firm friends among the leaders in his party both in con- gress and elsewhere, and this popularity has stood him in good stead in his efforts in behalf of his constituency. His committee assignments have been such as would enable him to accomplish the best results for a northwestern state. He is chairman of the committee on public lands, where are passed upon all questions affecting lands belonging to the United States, questions vital in their importance to the western states, and a member of the commit- tee on agriculture and foresty. During that most important epoch in the history of the Congressional Library-its reorganization, when the volumes were moved into their present magnificient abode-he was chairman of the joint committee of the library, which had jurisdiction of that matter. At the re- organization of the senate in December, 1899, he was selected as one of the committee on commit- tees, and in recognition of his ability and services during his senatorial career received the much coveted appointment as a member of the committee on finance-the most important committee in the senate, membership on which is so eagerly sought after. His other assignments are the committee on the District of Columbia and the committee on international expositions.

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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 148

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