Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 149

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

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He was married, in 1879, to Josephine E. Orr, of Newburg, New York, who died on January 14. 1895. In 1897 he married his present wife, Miss Mary Berri Chapman, of Washington, D. C., a lady of high literary and artistic abilities. Senator Hansbrough's father died in 1884. His mother is still living at the ripe old age of eighty-one years.

JOHN KAIN, one of the most influential farmers of Webster township, Ramsey county, has devoted his career to farming and has a pleasant home in section 30. He is well versed in his vo- cation, systematic and industrious, and is possessed of a character of the highest integrity, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his associates.

Our subject was born in Germany, June 17, 1853. He came to America with his parents when three years of age and resided in Milwaukee, Wis- consin, four years and then removed to Waukesha, Wisconsin. The family made their home there some three years and then located permanently in White River, Michigan, where our subject grew to manhood and continued his residence until 1883. In November of that year he entered North Dakota, and located on the farm where he has since been a resident and has prospered there as an agriculturist. The building of the place in- clude a comfortable residence, commodious barns, etc., and every appointment of the place evidences painstaking care in its operation. Mr. Kain owns and operates eight hundred acres of land, and is one of the solid men of his township.

Our subject was married in Decatur, Michi- gan, to Samantha Chapman, a native of the state of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Kain are the parents of four children, who are as follows: Edith O., now the wife of Oliver Twist; Dora, John H. and Leland W. In affairs pertaining to local govern- ment Mr. Kain has taken a most hearty interest, and he has been called upon to serve his community in various offices of trust, including member of the township board of supervisors, and justice of the peace, and as an educational worker he has served as school director and president of the school board.

JOSEPH WILLIAMS, a leading agriculturist of Grand Forks county, is a resident of Union township, on section 6 of which is located his present home.

Mr. Williams was born on a farm near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, August 26, 1857. He was reared to manhood in his native land, and received the benefits of a common school education. When he was twenty-one years of age he left Canada and went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was engaged in railroad work for one and a half years on the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad.

In 1880 Mr. Williams came to Grand Forks county and filed a homestead claim to one hundred

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and sixty acres of land in Washington township, and after having resided upon it a sufficient time to prove up his claim, he engaged as foreman of the farm of the late J. A. Mitch- ell, which farm now forms a part of the estate of our subject. He was employed as foreman of the Mitchell farm for five years, and then purchased the farm. He now owns and operates one thousand eight hundred acres of land, and has added all modern improvements for the conduct of farm work, and the farm is equipped with implements and machinery necessary to the prosecution of modern agriculture on an extensive scale. He has erected most of the buildings him- self, and they are models of convenience. He has an elevator with a capacity of twenty-two thousand bushels. His lands lie in Union and Washington townships, and are among the most valuable in the state.

Mr. Williams is a man of genuine public spirit, and lends his aid to every enterprise that promises practical advancement of the interests and welfare of his community and county. He is a man of strict integrity and a high sense of right and jus- tice. He enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him.

REV. JEROME HUNT, O. S. B., pastor of the Catholic Indian Mission and religious teacher among the Sioux Indians for the past twenty- three years, deserves a high place in the annals of North Dakota and the Northwest. He is located at Fort Totten in Benson county, and his influence is felt throughont all the region tributary to that center.

Father Jerome Hunt was born in Baden, Ger- many, in December, 1849. He is the youngest of two sons born to Anton and Francesca (Straub) Hunt He began his studies at the age of eight years, and when eleven years of age entered Freiburg Lyceum. When he was seventeen years old he came to America, whither many of his relatives had preceded him. He entered St. Meinrad's College in Indiana, and completed his course in theology with the late Bishop Marty. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching in the college, and in 1872 he was ordained, and engaged in local parish work and teaching, his specialty being languages.

In 1877 he began his work among the Sioux Indians at Fort Yates (Standing Rock Agency). From his own resources he built a brick church for the Indians, the first erected for them in North Dakota. He at once established a school for boys, and here in breech-clouts and blankets, with long, black hair, thirty boys gathered to be tutored. Father Hunt at once applied himself to a study of the Sioux language, which he soon mastered, not- withstanding its peculiar difficulties, and in 1897 he placed in his pupils' hands an illlustrated his- tory of the Bible in the Sioux language, and this was followed in 1899 by his book of Prayers, In-

structions and Hymns. He is thoroughly a mas- ter of the various dialects of the language and a close student of the Sioux character. In 1882 he was sent temporarily to Fort Totten, his linguistic abilities being in demand. His success resulted in his taking permanent charge. He at once be- gan teaching in the Industrial School, and his earnings were in part devoted to the building of St. Michael's church, six miles east, and in 1893 to the erection of St. Jerome's church. Up to 1890 he was in charge of the government industrial schools, since which time he has devoted himself wholly to parochial work. He is well known throughout the state, and has traveled much in the Northwest. He is one of the. very few priests that have ever been able to hold services in the Sioux language.

Father Hunt has also done much work in the cause of temperance. In 1884 he organized St. Joseph's Society for temperate male Indians and . St. Mary's society for females. In 1894 he con- ceived the idea of publishing a paper in the Sioux tongue, and at St. Michael's a printing outfit was installed, and a paper is regularly issued, all the work being done by Indians. Contributions to its columns are received from all the agencies. His experiences in western life would fill a volume, and comparatively little is known by any, except the priest and his Master, of the dangers resolutely faced and the obstacles patiently removed by the man who goes forth to set a light where darkness was before. An incident is related in connection with Father Hunt's arrival at Fort Yates. On the way they approached a crowd of Indians who seemed much excited. As they neared the group one of the Indians advanced and took from Father Hunt's head his new straw hat and walked away in triumph, while Father Hunt proceeded to Fort Yates and entered with uncovered head.

JAMES B. HOCKRIDGE, a prominent farmer of Cass county, is following his calling in Bell township, and has a well-developed farm of one section. He is one of the early settlers of the county, and his labors in behalf of the community in which he resides entitle him to' a foremost rank as a citizen and farmer. His friends will be glad to see his portrait in this work.

Our subject was born in Oxford county, On- tario, April 9, 1860. His parents, Richard and Elizabeth (Ormrod) Hockridge, were natives of England, and his father was born at Barnstable. He was a farmer by occupation, and emigrated to Canada about 1835, and settled in Oxford county, where he spent most of his life and died at the age of forty-eight years. Three sons and two dauglı- ters were born to them, all of whom reside in the United States. The mother now resides in Cass county, North Dakota.

Our subject was reared in Canada and there received his education, and in 1872 went to De-

JAMES B. HOCKRIDGE.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

troit, Michigan, where he learned the plumber and gas fitter's trade, and then returned to Canada. He spent two years there, and then two years on the great lakes and in the pineries, and then went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the employ of the government in the geographical survey on the lower Mississippi river. He later became engineer on a tug, and remained in the south until 1887, when he went to Cass county, North Dakota, and settled on section 12, in Arthur township, which he purchased in 1885. He engaged in farming thereon until 1898, when he purchased the farm on which he now resides. He is the owner of one section of choice land, and has surrounded him- self with all the conveniences and appointments of a model farm, and is among the substantial men of Bell township.

Our subject was married at Chester, Illinois, in 1889, to Nettie M. Beare, a native of Illinois. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hockridge, as follows: Jessie B., Thomas B., Floyd and Earle R. Mr. Hockridge is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in political sentiment is a Republican. He takes an active interest in local affairs, and has served as a member of the town board, and school treasurer for many years.

CHARLES PETERSON belongs to that large class of intelligent and enterprising farmers whose homes are places of social refinement and culture, and whose work as developers of the country is a credit alike to themselves and the community. His estate is located in section 6 of Lake township, Ramsey county, and is one of the well-developed tracts of that region. Mr. Peterson is of foreign birth, but is thoroughly identified with the better interests of his adopted land, and is one of the worthy citizens of his township.

Our subject was born in Sweden, February 7, 1866. His parents came to America when he was about three years of age, and he has continued his residence in this country since that time. They reside in St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where our subject was reared and resided until 1885. In March of that year he went to Ramsey county, North Dakota, and was employed at different oc- cupations and then spent one year in Montana, after which he returned to Ramsey county and has since resided there. He owns five hundred and thirty acres of land, which he has placed under high cultivation and engages in diversified farm- ing with good results.

Our subject was married in Devils Lake, North Dakota, December 25, 1895, to Miss Rosa Ambuhl. Two children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson, who are named as follows : Joseph J. and Blanche T. Mrs. Peterson was born in Austria, Germany, and at the age of twelve years came to America with her parents, Leo and Theresa (Weis) Ambuhl. The family located in

Ramsey county, where they now reside, in New- berry township. Mr. Peterson is a gentleman of broad mind and active public spirit and has served as a member of the board of supervisors of Lake township and taken much interest in local affairs.

LEWIS S. HELGELAND. One of the farms of Norway township, Nelson county, best adapted to diversified farming is owned and operated by the subject of this review. It consists of three hundred and twenty acres, of which seventy acres is meadow land, forty acres in timber and the balance is prairie and well adapted to crops, and the entire place furnishes a model farm. Mr. Helgeland has a comfortable home in section 24, and was one of the early settlers of Nelson county.

Our subject was born in LaFayette county, Wis- consin, November 28, 1858, and was the second in a family of eleven children. His parents, Sever and Catherine Helgeland, were natives of Norway, and reside in Worth county, Iowa. Our subject re- mained on the Iowa farm from his third to his twenty-first year, and worked for others one year, and in the spring of 1881 came by team to the Sheyenne valley, in what was then Grand Forks county. He settled on land on the banks of the river, and erected a small log house and passed the winter with neighbors, and in the spring of 1882 filed claim to the land, taking a memorable trip to Larimore for the purpose. It was in March, and the snows were heavy and there were no roads. Four days were consumed, and during two days on the trail blizzards raged. Our sub- ject and his brother lived together and became pro- ficient cooks. He erected a house on his home- stead on the prairie and lived there from 1883 to 1888, when he moved to his present location, and until 1893 he worked much for others, but has since devoted himself to diversified farming on his own estate and has made a success of his work.

Our subject was married, in 1894, to Miss Hannah Tenold. Mr. and Mrs. Helgeland are the parents of three children, Simon A., Emma C. and George D. Mr. Helgeland was the leading spirit in the organization of Norway township, and he was elected county commissioner for dis- trict No. I and served six years. He is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, and politically is af- filiated with the Republican party, and has at- tended many county conventions, and is now a member of the county central committee.

ORJANS H. BRENNA, in whose honor the township of Brenna, Grand Forks county, is named, is a representative farmer and citizen of his com- munity. He owns and operates one section of land and is one of the extensive general farmers of that region. He is a gentleman of the strictest integrity of word and deed, loyal and determined in his adherence to the right and to his friends,

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and as a pioneer of his locality has been one of the most important factors in the development and growth of the social and financial interests of Grand Forks county.

Our subject was born in Norway, June 12. 1851. His parents, Helga O. and Mary ( Orjans- datter ) Brenna, were natives of Norway, and the mother died there. The father came to the United States in 1873 and settled in Minnesota, and in 1878 went to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, where he entered claim to a quarter-section in Brenna township, and resided there until his death in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Three sons now live in the United States, and two daughters.

Mr. Brenna was reared and educated in his native land, and in 1876 went to America and set- tled in Minnesota, and in 1878 located in Grand Forks county, North Dakota. He arrived there May 14, and soon afterward filed claim to the southwest quarter of section 23, in Brenna town- ship, on which land he now resides, and he also entered a tree claim to land in section 22. He was one of the first settlers of the township, and has remained to aid in its transformation into a noted agricultural district. He has surrounded himself with all the comforts of country life, and is well to do.

Our subject was married, in 1879, to Miss Gure Ericksdatter, a native also of Norway. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brenna, upon whom they have bestowed the following names: Mary, Henry, Ole, Orjans, Oscar, Mar- tin, Eddie, Freeman, Lena, Amanda. Mr. Brenna and family are members of the Lutheran church, and are highly esteemed in this community. Our subject is prominent in local affairs, and assisted in the organization of Brenna township, and has served on the township board and in various mi- nor offices. He was school director twelve years and treasurer of the school board and treasurer of the town board, and is a man of true citizen- ship.

JOHN MUNIG, residing on section 17, of Freshwater township, Ramsey county, is one of the intelligent and enterprising farmers of his community. He is of foreign birth, but brought to this country the thrift and economy characteris- tic of the children of the German fatherland, and he is highly esteemed in his locality for these char- acteristics and the position he has gained as a prosperous farmer.

Our subject was born in Germany, in January, 1846. He spent the early years of his life until sixteen years of age in his native land, and about 1862 came to America. He resided in the city of New York for some time, and then enlisted in Company C, Sixty-sixth New York Volunteer In- fantry, and served eighteen months. He was en- gaged at the battle of the Wilderness, and was severely injured, his left hip being broken. After

his discharge from the service he returned to New York, and after a short time went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and resided in the state of Wisconsin until the spring of 1883. That spring for the first time he set foot in Ramsey county, North Dakota, and at once located on the farm on which he has since resided. He owns nine hundred and forty acres of land, and his home farm is well improved, and the entire tract is tillable and furnishes a good competence. In the way of buildings the place compares favorably with any farm of that locality, and Mr. Munig gives the place his personal su- pervision.

Our subject was married in Brown county, Wisconsin, to Miss Anna Seidenklantz. Mrs. Munig died in Freshwater township, Ramsey county, in September, 1891. One child was born to this union, who bears the name of Louis. Mr. Munig was married in Freshwater township to Mrs. Emma (Leet) Bradley, a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Munig are the parents of three chil- dren, named as follows: Flora B., George W. and Frank. Mrs. Munig was the mother of one child by her former marriage, a daughter, named Grace E. Our subject has taken a good degree of interest in township and county affairs of a pub- lic nature, and is one of the esteemed and influen- tial citizens of his locality.

WILLIAM C. NASH, who enjoys the dis- tinction of being the first to settle in the vicinity of Grand Forks, is now one of the widely known and most honored men of the state. He resides at East Grand Forks on a pleasant farm, where he located in 1870.

Our subject was born in Newcastle, Pennsyl- vania, June 1, 1833, and was a son of Ephraim and Lois (Warner ) Nash. His parents were natives of New York, and they removed to Penn- sylvania and engaged in farming, and later re- turned to New York, where they died. The family originally came from Massachusetts. Our subject has three brothers, two of whom now reside in Washington and one in Minnesota.

Our subject passed his boyhood in New York and Michigan, attending school at Adrian, of the latter state, for three years, and in 1854 he went to Harrisburg, Kentucky, where he followed gen- eral merchandising until 1860. He then accom- panied General Hatch on his campaign through the northwest after Indians, and he accompanied the expedition as far as Pembina. North Dakota, spending the winters of 1863-64 in Forts Garrey and Pembina, Canada, and while there acted as agent for the government, and succeeded in bring- ing Little Six and Medicine Bottle, two Indian chiefs, back to the United States under arrest. He spent the following summer in Chicago, and in the fall was appointed suttler at Fort Abercrombie, and held that position five years, during which time he was contracting, and in 1870 built the post

WILLIAM C. NASH.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

at Pembina, and made the first brick used in Da- kota. He went to East Grand Forks in 1870, and entered claim to the land on which he now resides, and he was the first settler of that region, and has held continuous residence there since that date. He was engaged in carrying United States mail in the early days from Fort Abercrombie to Pembina, and used dogs and sleds for the purpose, and he served four years as postmaster in East Grand Forks. His home was used by the early settlers as a temporary fort.

Our subject was married in St. Peter, Minne- sota, in 1869, to Miss Ida V. Slaughter, a native of Minnesota. Her family was one of the old fanii- lies of Virginia, Seven children, four sons and three daughters, have been born to Mr. and Mirs. Nash. Mr. Nash has been a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity for the past forty-three years, and is well known in Masonic circles. He is a Demo- crat politically, but never sought public preferment or filled public office. His portrait found else- where, is an integral part of this sketch, for it serves to reveal the real man.

"THE TURTLE MOUNTAIN STAR," owned and edited by W. J. Hoskins, is the only paper published in Rolla, North Dakota. It was established in October, 1888, by C. P. Parsons and H. H. Fritz, and was started as a four-page six- colunin paper. In January, 1890, Mr. Parsons became sole proprietor, and April 14, 1892, Mr. Hoskins purchased the plant. £ The paper con- tinued Republican as at first established, but deals with all current issues, laboring for the interests of the community in which it is published. It has been enlarged to an eight-page six-column paper, with a circulation of six hundred and fifty, and is the only paper in that part of the county.

W. J. HOSKINS, editor and proprietor, was born in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, September 9, 1856. He was the fourth in a family of eight children, born to William and Amelia (Heathorn) Hoskins, both of whom were natives of England. Our subject attended school, and taught several terms, and in 1877 entered Lawrence University at Ap- pleton, Wisconsin, graduating with the class of 1882. He taught several years, and in the spring of 1892 went to Rolla, North Dakota, and soon after his arrival there purchased the paper he now edits. The printing outfit and building were en- tirely destroyed by fire in October, 1897, and a more extensive plant was secured and a new steel fire-proof building, 50x25 feet, was erected. The upper story is used as a lodge roon1.

Mr. Hoskins was married, in 1887, to Miss Kittie Trumbull, who died January 5, 1890. He again married, his second wife being Miss Eliza McMillan, the marriage occurring at Rolla, North Dakota, May 31, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins are the parents of two children, named as follows: Stella G. and James H. Mr. Hoskins was ap-

pointed postmaster of Rolla, North Dakota, No- vember 10, 1897, and is ably filling that office. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is a Royal Arch Mason. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and is one of the prominent and pros- perous newspaper men of North Dakota.

WILLIAM HALLS. This gentleman, the popular and efficient sheriff of Bottineatt county, now a resident of Bottineau, presents in his own interesting and remarkably successful career, a striking illustration of the fertile field a new coun- try offers to ability and ambition. Coming here a few years ago with no friends but his own strength and character, he holds a leading posi- tion in the community today, is a man of influence far beyond his own county, and if not wealthy, is certainly possessed of ample resources. And all this has been accomplished before a man in the older sections of the country would be considered old enough to assume any serious responsibilities.

Mr. Hall is a native of Ontario, Canada, where he was born in 1866. His father, John Halls, was a mechanic who came to Canada from his na- tive England in 1827. His mother was Anna Ket- tlewell, and was of mixed Irish and English blood. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother in England. William was the third child in their family, and was reared on a farm. They had eight children, and the older members of the family had to do their full share of the common house and farmı work. When Mr. Halls was seventeen years of age he had finished his schooling at the common school, and was ready to shift for him- self. He worked two years at the trade of brick- laying, but did not think it best to remain in Can- ada. Accordingly in 1885 he came into North Dakota, and settled on a farm in Bottineau county, which he had selected even before it was ready for entry. He put up a sod shanty, 10x12 feet, and as he had brought nothing with him he could only occupy it enough to keep his claim good. For the next two years he put in the most of his time working for others, and in 1887 bought his first team, which consisted of a yoke of oxen. The

next summer he began farming on his account, and that year harvested his first crop. It was killed by the frost, and he did not get his seed off of one hundred acres. In 1891 he had his first good crop, his wheat going twenty bushels to the acre, and amounting to over three thousand two hundred bushels. He continued on his farm un- til 1893, and during that time traveled extensively through Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. He did considerable work on the railroad and on the cattle ranges, but found no better location than the one he had selected.

In July, 1894, another chapter in the history of Mr. Halls was opened, and that consisted in his

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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 149

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