Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 152

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

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region. He served in the army until 1882, having been a member of the same company and regiment continuously since 1866. He was discharged as first sergeant and his military record is one that is rarely equalled and does honor to him as a soldier and a man.

Seeing that the land in the region of Devils Lake was rapidly being taken, he filed a claim to a tract in Graham's Island, named, so tradition states, in honor of the old hunter of that name, who is said to have buried some treasure in the lake and was finally killed by the Indians.

Mr. Michels is a Republican in political faith and has been an active worker in the interest of ius party. he was elected at the first general election in 1894 as county commissioner from the second district and in 1886 was chairman of the Republican county central committee. In 1898 he was elected to the state legislature and is now serving in that capacity. It was through his efforts that house bill No. 8 became a law.

Mr. Michels was married, in 1870, to Miss Ellen Reilly, and to this union four children were born, named as follows: James, Edward, Violet and Charles. Mrs. Michels died January 9, 1900. Mr. Michels is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F., the 'Knights of Pythias, the B. A. Y. and the G. A. R.

ALBERT M. POWELL, who conducts an ex- tensive real estate, loan and insurance business in Devils Lake, North Dakota, is one of the pioneer business men of Ramsey county. He has made a success of his work and enjoys a good competence.

Our subject was born in Dayton, Ohio, De- cember 23. 1855. where he was reared and educated, graduating from the high school in that city, and he then engaged in the mercantile business in Dayton for some time. He went to Fargo, North Dakota, in the spring of 1882 and after a short stay returned to Dayton, Ohio, and in the spring of 1883 again went to Fargo, but soon returned to Ramsey county. He remained there some months and then went to Towner county, where, upon the organiza- tion of the county, he was appointed by Judge S. A. Hudson, clerk of the district court of that county, and had jurisdiction over the adjoining counties of Bottineau and Rolette, which were not then or- ganized, and he filled the office several years. He took up land near the city of Cando, which he pre- empted. He went to Devils Lake later and was en- ployed as bookkeeper for the mercantile firm of C. & L. Budde, where he remained about two years and then established himself in the real estate, loans and insurance business, which he has since con- ducted with good success. He is largely interested in real estate in the vicinity of Devils Lake.

Our subject was married at Crary, Ramsey coun- ty, North Dakota, to Miss Elsie M. Mooers, a daughter of Calvin Mooers, who was one of the pioneers of Ramsey county. Mrs. Powell is a na-

tive of Minnesota. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Powell, who are named as follows: Albert W., Arthur A. and Reginald C. Mr. Powell takes an active interest in all public affairs, edu- cational and otherwise, and has served as president of the board of education of Devils Lake. He is an active worker in the Church of the Advent and is a prominent member of the Y. M. C. A. of North Dakota, and an earnest worker in that organiza- tion. He has always acted with the Republican party and is a man of broad ideas and firm convic- tions. He well merits his success and enviable repu- tation.

HENRY STEINBERG, one of the leading ag- riculturists and land owners of Grand Forks county, has been a resident of Union township since 1882, and has taken a prominent part in its public affairs. Mr. Steinberg resides on section 35.

Our subject was born in Germany, March 28, 1858, and spent his boyhood days in his native land. At the age of fourteen years he came to the United States in company with an older brother, William, and they first located at Blue Earth City, Minne- sota. There they worked for several years and then went to Olmstead county, Minnesota, and en- gaged in farm labor until 1882. In the spring of that year Henry Steinberg came to North Dakota and took up land in Union township, Grand Forks county, where he made his permanent home and where he now resides. He has made substantial and valuable improvements and has added to his possessions from time to time until he now owns eight hundred and nine acres, situated in Grand Forks and Traill counties. His lands are among the best in the county and he has made a success of agriculture.

Mr. Steinberg was married in Olmstead county, Minnesota, to Miss Louisa DeWitz, a native of the state of Wisconsin. To this union the following children have been born : Alice, Louis, Emily, Edna, Nora, Tracy, Henry and two who died in infancy.

Mr. Steinberg has taken a prominent part in public affairs of a local nature and has always given encouragement to every worthy enterprise calculated to benefit the community and county. He has for several years been a member of the township board of supervisors and also school treasurer. He is an influential citizen and a valued member of the com- munity and enjoys to a high degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow men throughout the county.

EDWINC. CARRUTH, one of the leading news- paper men of Grand Forks, North Dakota, is in- terested in the "Plaindealer," and has been instru- mental in bringing success to this paper after many others had failed in the work. He was born at Mount Pleasant, Minnesota, May 7, 1866.

Mr. Carruth resided at Pepin, Wisconsin, and Reeds Landing, Minnesota, until eleven years of

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age, when he removed with his father to Crooks- ton in 1878, where he lived until 1893, occupying positions in the Fontaine & Anglim mercantile es- tablishment. He was with the "Crookston Times" several years and also served three years as city clerk of the city of Crookston. He removed to Grand Forks in 1893, and in company with W. E. Mc- Kenzie, became owner of the "Plaindealer." This is the oldest paper of the state, with one exception, and since 1892 has been the only Democratic daily in the state. Since taken by Mr. Carruth and Mr. Mckenzie the "Plaindealer" has gained in circu- lation and prominence and is now one of the lead- ing newspapers of the Northwest.

Our subject was married, in the fall of 1888, to Miss Emily A. Mckenzie, of Crookston, Minne- sota. Mr. Carruth is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Elks, Sons of Veterans and is past master workman of the Ancient Order of United Work- men, and also holds membership in the Knights of Malta. He is a young man of practical experience in newspaper work and has gained a host of friends and made a success in North Dakota, and by his editorship and management of the "Plaindealer" has evidenced excellent business capacity. Connected with the Democratic party he has become well known. He was elected secretary of the state Democratic central committee in 1894, serving con- tinuously up to the present time, and was re-elected in 1900 to serve until 1902. He was also elected as secretary of the state executive committee and with Chairman Kleinogel managed the campaigns of 1896, 1898 and 1900.

SIVER SERUMGARD, a prominent attorney of Devils Lake, is the senior partner of the well-known real estate firm of Serumgard & Moen, of Devils Lake. He was born in Lesje parish, Norway, De- cember 11, 1859.

Mr. Serumgard came to America with his par- ents in 1868 and settled on a farm in Watonwan county, Minnesota, where he was reared to man- hood and where he lived until 1882. He was edu- cated in the high school in Mankato and at the State University at Minneapolis, where he gradu- ated in the literary class of 1890 and from the law department the same year. He was admitted to the bar at Devils Lake in July, 1890, and began the practice of his profession at Cooperstown, North Dakota, where he remained one year and then lo- cated in Devils Lake in the spring of 1891. He has since followed practice there and is largely in- terested in real estate in Ramsey county. He came to North Dakota in 1882 and taught school for some time in Fargo and also taught in Cooperstown until he was admitted to the bar. In August, 1892, in company with Mr. L. D. McGohen, he established the paper published in Devils Lake, known as "The Free Press." This was a Democratic paper and had a wide circulation.

Our subject was married, in Covington, Ken-

tucky, February 12, 1894, to Miss Grace E. Kirker, a native of Manchester, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Se- rumgard are the parents of three children, named as follows: Arthur K., Grace B. and Dorothy D. Our subject was appointed by Governor Shortridge, in 1893, as regent of the North Dakota State Uni- versity for four years. He has been city attorney for Devils Lake three terms and has also been alder- man in the city and is one of the public-spirited men of that locality. He is a member of the Presby- terian church and in political sentiment is Demo- cratic, with which party he has been identified since 1888. Mr. Serungard formed a partnership with Egild T. Moen, October 1, 1898, and this well-known firm conducts an extensive real estate, loan and collection business.

STIGUR THORWALDSON, the efficient and popular postmaster of Akra, and general merchant of that place, is of foreign birth, but brought to this country the thrift and industry of his native land, and has prospered amid the discouragements under which many others would have given up the struggle, and he is now one of the substantial men of that region. He owns extensive farming lands near the town, which he devotes to diversified farm- ing with marked success, and has a prosperous mer- cantile business in the town. In the accumulation of the estate, Mrs. Thorwaldson has borne a fair share of the good management which has resulted so well. The reader will find his portrait else- where, and will find it that of a strong, manly char- acter.

Our subject was born in Iceland, December 17, 1853, and is the eldest of a family of twelve children born to Thorwald Stigson and Wilborg Jolinsdat- ter, both of whom are deceased. He was born on a farm, and engaged in stock raising and fishing with his father until he reached the age of twenty- five years, when the father died, and our subject assumed sole charge of the farm. After three years of work thereon, he decided to emigrate to a larger field of labor, and with a fair knowledge of English and hearing much of the Red river valley, he decided to try his fortune in the Northwest in America, and in the fall of 1881 left the old country, and September 8 arrived at Pembina with the mother and ten brothers and sisters. He rented a house for the family in Akra township, and then went to Cavalier county in search of a location, but finding none to suit returned to Pembina and soon afterward married. Mrs. Thorwaldson has home- steaded land in Joliette township, and that was sold and the quarter where they now reside was pur- chased, and they took up their permanent residence on the banks of the Tongue river. They had a log cabin for a home, and began the development of the farm, and until 1888 met with success at farm work. They made permanent improvements, and in the fall of that year, with a capital of four hundred dol- lars, which he had accumulated, started a small

STIGUR THORWALDSON.

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country store in a frame shanty connected with their dwelling house. Fire destroyed the house and store in 1890 and caused a total loss. They soon after- ward rebuilt and stocked again with a small sup- ply, and in 1892 his brother Elis and our subject formed a new firm and built a good building which the store now occupies, and increased the stock. Our subject and wife assumed sole charge of the busi- ness in 1895, and still conduct the same. They now carry a stock valued at five thousand dollars, and enjoy a good trade. Mr. Thorwaldson was ap- pointed postmaster of Akra postoffice when the same was established in 1891, and has held the office since that date. He and his wife own four hundred and eighty acres of good land, and in 1898 a pleas- ant and comfortable residence was erected.

Mr. Thorwaldson was married in North Dakota to Miss Thorunn Bjornsdotter, to whom he was en- gaged in his native country. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thorwaldson, named as follows: Thorwald ; Bjorn; Wilmur P., deceased ; Olafer K .; Wilmer P .; Aleph S .; Paulina ; Thorb- jorg G .; Jeunie E. and Thoren S., deceased. Our subject was the first treasurer of Akra township, and has since served in that capacity. He was the Republican candidate for the state legislature in 1896, but the ticket was defeated. He is a delegate to county and state conventions, and is active in public affairs. He holds membership in the Lu- theran church and Modern Woodmen of America.

GOTFRED H. GUNHUS. Prominent among the early settlers and prosperous farmers of Benson county is the gentleman whose name introduces this article. His comfortable home is situated on section 35, Leeds township, where he is the owner of a half- section of the most valuable lands in North Dakota.

Mr. Guuhus was born in Snorum Modums Pres- tegjeld, Norway, November 30, 1856. He was the second child in a family of six children born to Hans and Anne (Saastad) Asbjornhus, both parents being now deceased. At the age of fourteen years Mr. Gunhus was apprenticed to a tailor in Dramı- men and there he remained until he was twenty- four years old. In the summer of 1881, having grown tired of his trade, Mr. Gunhus came to Amer- ica. He went to Dane county, Wisconsin, and after- ward to Eau Claire county, in the same state, work- ing at anything he could get to do. In the summer of 1884 he started to go to the Pacific coast, but on his arrival at St. Paul, Minnesota, he joined an excursion to Devils Lake, and on reaching there he was so pleased with the country that he imme- diately filed a claim to land in what is now Lake Ibsen township, thus becoming one of the earliest residents of Benson .county. He brought with him about one hundred dollars and this was expended in building a shanty and getting his bachelor home fitted up. The next year he began breaking on his claim and in 1886 took up the homestead claim on which he now lives in Leeds township. In

1888 he practically lost his entire crop, barely get- ting the amount of his seed from the entire yield. Since that he has prospered, however, and has a valuable estate and his home is furnished with all the conveniences of modern farm life.

Mr. Gunhus was married, in 1889, to Miss An- drina Goldberg. She born at Mabel, Fillmore coun- ty, Minnesota, and to this union five children have been born, as follows: Selmer, deceased, Alma, Selma, deceased, Harry A. and Mabel S. Mr. Gunhus is a member of the Lutheran church and in political views is a Republican. He takes an active interest in the affairs of his township and county. He is a member of the board of supervisors and of the school board and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his community.

EGILD T. MOEN, of the firm of Serumgard & Moen, is one of the well-known real estate men of Devils Lake, North Dakota, as well as a pioneer of the state. He was born on a farm in Vernon county, Wisconsin, October 5. 1858.

Our subject was reared in his native place until seventeen years of age and attended school in La Crosse two years and then went to Wilmar, Min- nesota, where he attended school two years, He sought the far Northwest in 1879, and that year located in Fargo, North Dakota, and engaged in buying wheat two years, after which he was em- ployed in the real estate and law office of Hazen & Clement and after spending two years there went to Devils Lake, North Dakota, in September, 1883, and engaged in the real estate and loan business, which business has since claimed his attention. He is largely interested in real estate and is one of the well-to-do men of his community.

Our subject was married, in Fargo, North Da- kota, October 15, 1884, to Miss Reca Steele, a na- tive of Germany. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Moen, who died January 22, 1894. when he was seven years of age. Mr. Moen is a courteous, genial man and has hosts of friends in Devils Lake.

NORMAN MORRISON, one of the most ex- tensive and influential farmers of Freshwater town- ship, went to Ramsey county in early days and has remained to witness its growth and development and aid materially in the same. He resides in sec- tion II, where every appointment of the farm and house bespeak intelligence and good taste.

Our subject was born on a farm in Glengary county, Ontario, Canada, March 1. 1859. He was reared and educated in that county and resided there until 1886. In July of that year he went to Ramsey county, North Dakota, and there joined his brothers, Duncan and Finley J. The three brothers farmed in partnership and operated the farm under the firm name of Morrison Brothers. Duncan Morrison died in October, 1890. The

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brothers erected good buildings and made valuable improvements and they owned and operated four- teen hundred acres of land. The land is fertile and well located and furnishes a good annual income.

Norman Morrison was married, in Glengarry county, Ontario, Canada, to Miss Jennie McLeod, a native of that county. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Morrison, of whom two sons died in infancy, and a daughter, Sarah B., is the only surviving child. Mrs. Morrison died in Fresh- water township, Ramsey county, in January, 1895. Our subject was subsequently married in Ramsey county, North Dakota, to Mrs. Christena Maggie ( McNaughton) McMaster, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are active members of the Presbyterian church, Webster Chapel, and Mr. Morrison is a trustee of that denomination. He is a man of good judgment and earnest convictions and has served as chairman of the township board of supervisors since 1890 and is also a member of the school board, acting as treasurer of the same.

H. DWIGHT CUTLER. As a pioneer set- tler and well-to-do agriculturist this gentleman is well known in Grand Forks county. He has a pleasant estate, comprising three hundred acres of land near the city of Grand Forks, and enjoys the comforts of life in his declining years.

Our subject was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, December 25, 1824, and was a son of Harvey and Lydia ( Wheeler) Cutler, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. The father was a carriage maker by trade and moved to Ver- mont in 1826 and in 1856 settled in Stillwater, Min- nesota, where he died. The mother died in Ver- mont. This worthy couple were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, all now deceased but our subject and one sister, residing in St. Paul.

Mr. Cutler was reared and educated at Phillips Academy, at Danville, Vermont, and then began clerking, which occupation he followed five years. He then engaged in general merchandising at Cole- brook, New Hampshire, which he followed until 1858, and that year went to Stillwater, Minnesota. He remained there until 1879. and was postmaster of Stillwater sixteen years. He arrived in Grand Forks county November 13, 1879, and purchased land to which he soon afterward removed and has resided thereon continuously since that time. He also operated a lumber yard in Grand Forks two years, and has been identified with the business growth of that city.

Our subject was married, in Stillwater, Minne- sota, in 1864, to Maria L. Van Vorhes, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Cutler's father was register of the land office at Stillwater in 1869. during Andrew Johnson's administration. Mr. Cutler has always given a hearty support to the upbuilding of his township and county, and has become closely iden- tified with the history of that locality. He is chair-

man of the township board, which office he has held several years, and is a man of broad ideas and well merits his success and enviable reputation.

HON. EVEN H. HOLTE. Among the farm- ers in the prime of life in Cass county, a good sta- tion has been attained by the gentleman above named, whose career has been marked with energy, prudence and persistent effort. His well-directed labors have resulted in the attainment of a fine es- tate in Noble township, where he resides on section 26, and is surrounded by all that goes to make life enjoyable, while he has gained a host of friends by his active labors for the welfare of his community, and is deservedly popular with the people among whom he has lived since his boyhood. They will be glad to find his portrait in this publication.

Our subject was born in Norway, March 23, 1860, and was a son of Hans O. and Elene Holte. His parents came to America in 1869 and settled in Wilmington township, Houston county, Minnesota, where they lived until the spring of 1878, and then removed to Noble township, Cass county , North Dakota, where they reside on section 36.

Mr. Holte came to America with his parents when he was nine years of age, and remained at home until 1891, when he began farming for him- self, settling on the land where he now resides. He has lived in Noble township since the spring of 1878 and has followed farming, and is now the owner of five hundred and eighty-two acres of land. He is progressive in his work, and on his home farm has erected a complete set of good farm buildings, and made other valuable improvements.

Our subject was married in Noble township, Cass county, December 9, 1891, to Miss Alma Schow, a daughter of Martin and Dorothea Schow, a sketch of whose lives appears on another page of this volume. Mrs. Holte was born in Norway, January 17, 1863, and came to America with her parents when about two years of age. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Holte, as fol- lows : Malven H. and Delia E. M. Mr. Holte was elected to the North Dakota legislature in the fall of 1890, on the Republican ticket, and served one term, giving efficient service for his community. He has served as county assessor of Cass county, and has been a member of the board of supervisors of Noble township for many years, and justice of the peace and clerk of the school board several years. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and is an earnest worker in that denomina- tion. He is a gentleman of the highest degree of integrity, and adheres strictly to the right and jus- tice, and enjoys the confidence of his fellow men.

KNUTE O. NESHEIM, living on section 8, Norway township, claims the distinction of being the oldest settler in the Sheyenne river valley within the limits of Nelson county. He is a pros-

HON. EVEN H. HOLTE.

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perous and enterprising agriculturist and has dem- onstrated what pluck and energy, good manage- ment and good sense can do in a country like North Dakota.

Mr. Nesheim was born in Bergenstift, Norway, near Vaassestraden, on the farm of Nesheim, March 8, 1859. He was the eldest of eleven children born to Ole and Betsey (Nesheim) Nesheim, the par- ents still living in Iowa. The father preceded the family to America, and our subject, with the mother and children, joined him in Allamakee county, Iowa, in 1873, where they made their home. When he was seventeen years of age Knute O. Nesheim began work on a farm in Worth county, Iowa. From there, in company with T. Mikkleson, he started for the Sheyenne river, in Dakota. They drove overland with ox-teams, and reached the Sheyenne river at Valley City. They followed up the stream and chose lands near each other in Nel- son county. They were the first settlers in the Sheyenne river valley within the limits of Nelson county, locating June 26, 1880. Mr. Mikkleson sold out and removed from the valley, thus leaving Mr. Nesheim the original first settler in the valley within the county. He was at that time the owner of two yoke of oxen and two cows. He engaged part of the time in breaking land for others at four and five dollars per acre. He also improved his own farm and raised crops each year. He spent some time in hunting and trapping, and many deer and some antelope fell before his rifle. Beaver and other wild animals were trapped and fishing was good in the streams. He was one of the organizers of Norway township and has served on the town- ship board almost continuously since. Few men can tell more of the early history of Nelson county and few deserve equal mention in its history. He is the present township supervisor.

Mr. Nesheim was married, in 1884, to Miss Minnie Arlen. Nine children have been born to this union, named as follows: Annie S., Oscar, Bennard, Bella, Matilda, Lena, Edwin, Melvin, Theodore (deceased). While Mr. Nesheim is prospering and has many farm conveniences, he still resides in a log house, built in 1895. He en- dured many trying experiences in the early days, but of late years he has had good success and has made his way against many hardships that would have overcome the courage of an ordinary man. He is widely known and thoroughly respected and esteemed throughout the community. In politics he adheres to Republican principles and is a de- voted member of the Lutheran church.

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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 152

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